the first murder of mankind

The power of words

Cain was jealous of the acceptance of his brother Abel’s offering, even though his offering was not accepted by God, leading to his brother’s murder. This is the first murder of mankind. The Bible says:

Peter Paul Rubens / “Cain killing Abel”

⁸Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. ⁹Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” ¹⁰The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. ¹¹Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ¹²When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” ¹³Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. ¹⁴Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” ¹⁵But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. ¹⁶So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. (Genesis 4: 8-16)

Gustave Doré / “Cain killing Abel”

If we don’t deal with the bad emotions in our heart, we’ll end up on the path of ruin. Cain couldn’t control his bad thoughts, so he was conquered by sin. The intention of Cain’s remark, “Let’s go to the field” (verse 8), was to kill his younger brother Abel. This is the motive for speaking. Jesus said. But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”(Matthew 15: 18-20)

We must always keep an eye on our hearts. Because if sin is left alone, it will grow and reproduce. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23) Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city. (Proverbs 16:32)

How sad was Adam and Eve who lost Abel? They had seen the death of animals, but they were the first to see the death of humans. What’s more, whether it’s their own child. Moreover, the criminal who killed Abel was Cain, who they gave birth to. It is said that if we have suffered from competitiveness or jealousy in a relationship between brothers and sisters, the conflict will be projected to relationships other than brothers and sisters, and we may feel hatred toward the people around us. Psychoanalyst G. Jung called such a mental conflict the “Cain Complex,” based on an article by Cain and Abel in the Book of Genesis.

William Blake / “Abel’s Corpse Discovered by Adam and Eve”

After Adam and Eve sinned, God called out to them, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3: 9). Here God is asking Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” (Verse 9). God pointed out sin to Cain and asked for repentance. But Cain didn’t say, “I’m here. I killed Abel. What stupid thing did I really do? Please forgive me. No, He said “Am I the guardian of my brother? “(Verse 9). There may have been an irony such as “My brother Abel was the keeper of the sheep, but I am not the keeper of my brother.” This was also seen in Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve did not plead guilty to themselves and each transferred responsibility. Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent (devil) (Genesis 3: 12-13). Cain did something similar to this. It is the original sin inherited from Adam and the heredity of the sin.

William Adolphe Bouguereau / “The Mourning for Abel’s Death”

If we don’t plead guilty and don’t repent, we are on the path of Cain. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. (1 John 3:12)

Abel’s blood, on the other hand, was a precursor to the blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross. The blood of Christ forgives the sins of sinners and paves the way for God. We can receive salvation and forgiveness by acknowledging and confessing our sins.

the first murder of mankind

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