Able

Able

And the Lord respected Able and his offering. Gen.4:4

By faith Able offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. Heb. 11:4.

On you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Able to the blood of zechariah. Matt.23:35.

We show that both earthly oblations and spiritual sacrifices were foreshadowed ... Cain foreshadowed those of the elder son, that is, of Israel. And the opposite sacrifices are demonstrated to be those of the younger son, Able. He represents our Christian people.

Beloved brethren, let us imitate righeous Able, who initiated martyrdoms. For he was the first to be slain for righteousness'

sake.

In the sacrifices that Ablel and Cain first offered, God looked not at their gifts, but at their hearts. Able was acceptable in his gift because he was acceptable in his heart. Ablel was peaceable and righteous; he sacrificed in innocecce to God. He thereby taught othres that when they, too bring their gift to the altar, they should come with the fear of God and with a simple heart.