In this study of Cain and Abel, we are going to discuss the various ways that Abel is a type of Christ and Cain a type of the house of Israel.

Abel is a type of Christ.  So, Cain killing Abel is a type of Jesus’s crucifixion by the Jews.  In Matt 23:35 Jesus held the scribes and Pharisees responsible for the blood of righteous Abel.

In comparing Cain and Abel, we find that:

Abel and Jesus were both shepherds, Jn 10, both presented a Lamb as a sacrifice, 1 Pet 1:19, both were hated by their brothers, Jn 15:25, and both were envied Matt 27:18. Abel’s blood cried (he being dead yet speaketh) and Jesus’s sacrifice speaks Heb 12:24. Both offered excellent offerings, Heb 11:4, Heb 12:24, both their offerings were accepted, and both obtained witness that they were righteous Heb 11:4, Lk 23:47.

Cain and Israel similar.  Both refused the lamb, both were self-righteous, Rom 10:3, both tried to obtain righteousness by works rather than faith, Heb 11:4, Rom 9:21, and both were rejected, Acts 13:39.  Both slew their brother, Acts 5:30, and both were cursed Gen 4:11, Jer 24:9. The ground was barren for both Gen 4:12, Lev 26:34-35, both were driven out Gen 4:14, 70AD, and man’s hand was and has been against them Gen 4:14 Deut 28:66.  They were both marked Gen 4:15, (star of David in the Holocaust), they were both dispersed (fugitive and vagabond), Deut 28:65. Cain was punished and Israel was punished, Mk 12:9, both were avenged against their attackers, Gen 4:15, Gen 12:3, and both dwelt in cities Gen 4:17.

The New Testament gives an interesting perspective on Cain.  In 1 Jn 3:12 we read, “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous”.  Cain and Abel, therefore, were very different, like the difference between the devil and Jesus and the Pharisees and Jesus, Jn 8:44.

Jude 11 “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core”.

One of the reasons that Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted, therefore, is that he was wicked, Prov 15:8.  To study the prior lesson in this series, see Adam and Jesus Compared.  To study the next lesson in this series, see Enoch Never Died.