Why did God accept Abel's sacrafice and not Cain's?

Question

Why did God accept Abel's sacrafice and not Cain's?

Answer 1

Abel's sacrifice was the prescribed blood sacrifice of a lamb.

Cain's sacrifice was the fruit of his own labors, and not the proper sacrifice at all.

Answer 2

God hates vegetarians.

Answer 3

Because Abel gave God the best that he had, while Cain gave him some roots that meant nothing to him, and hid offering did not come from his heart. Abel gave his offereing from his heart and it was the best he had.

Answer 4

abel gave god his first fruits, cain gave god the leftovers. read genesis.

Answer 5

Abel gave up the best he had to offer; Cain the rotten fruit.

Answer 6

because the people writing the story needed to give Cain a plausible motive for murder.

Answer 7

Abel showed more devotion to God, in sacrificing one of his little lambs, whereas Cain gave fruit.

Answer 8

god likes the smell of burning flesh he said. later though, in isaiah, the lord says that it's an abomination to him. god changes his mind sometimes.

Answer 9

Because Abel's heart was right with God, he followed the Lord with all his heart. Cain did not have his heart right with God, he was jealous of his brother for doing the right things in life. Cain's sacrifice was therefore not pleasing to God.  

Answer 10

There is one that come on YA which, if you should see his avatar, I would send an email to and ask him this. His name is Schneb. Highly educated I think.

As for my answer, I would look forward, then back.

In Jude, Cain is named as an example of what NOT to do. Some answers have already nailed it down, but it is true-God has decreed that without the shedding of blood, there is NO remission for sins.

This, Cain did not pay attention to. He chose to worship God in his own way, as we are warned against in the Epistle of Jude.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY sacrifice for sins, and the scriptures are clear that if we are not found in Him, having accepted and trusted in Him and His sacrifice, we will not be accepted.

Answer 11

Cain wanted to do his way not God's way.

Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.

Answer 12

Abel gave his first and best. Cain gave his leftovers. Attitude.

Answer 13

Cain (aka Kabil) offered crops and Abel (aka Habil) offered livestock.

Neolithic man my have farmed livestock before planting crops, and there may been conflict between those who grew crops and those who kept livestock about the use of land. The myth may have reflected this conflict.

But civilisation developed from crop farming. And Cain built a city, naming it after his son Enoch.

So the description of God favouring one brother's sacrifice over the other, and the consequential killing (perhaps a symbol of war), and the building of a city, might originally have been a symbolic rendering of how civilisation developed in the Middle East.

Answer 14

Cain gave from the worst stuff, Abel from the best.

Answer 15

Hebrews 11:4  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Answer 16

Because God love's those who do good for his sake and humbl themselves. And he never wastes thier deeds.

Answer 17

Abel gave God the sacrifice God wanted.

Cain just gave his works, and God rejected it.  God always rejects our works.

Just like today in our time, the only acceptable sacrifice for sins is JESUS.  Any works we do, are worthless and lead to eternal torment in h**l.

The ONLY WAY to be saved and to get into heaven, is by believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is this: The truth is that the only way to be saved and to get into heaven and avoid being sent to eternal h**l is by believing in faith alone that Jesus, who is God, died for our sins on the cross and rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Believe this and you are saved!

Please pray now: "Jesus, please forgive me of my sins. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and You rose from the dead. Thank You for eternal life!" You will be in heaven with Him forever when you die. :)

Answer 18

Because Abel did what God asked him...Cain did not.

Answer 19

Alqura'n: 5 [27] Recite to them the truth of the story of the two sons of Adam. Behold! they each presented a sacrifice (to Allah): it was accepted from one, but not from the other. Said the latter: "Be sure I will slay thee." "Surely," said the former, "Allah doth accept of the sacrifice of those who are righteous.

[28] "If thou dost stretch thy hand against me, to slay me, it is not for me to stretch my hand against thee to slay thee: for I do fear Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds.

Answer 20

Able brought what he was supposed to bring, a sacrifice..Something that dies for atonement.

Cain brought what he thought should be ``good enough``

Answer 21

Abel was a shepherd who gave God the "best of his flock"

Cain was a farmer who gave God "some of his fruit"

God did not accept Cain's sacrifice because it was not the best he had, so pleasing God was not Cain's highest priority.

Answer 22

who is to say that God did not accept cains offerings up until that day?!!

the pearl of great price in the lds church says that cain made a covenant with satan, a secret combination of murder and to get GAIN or pillage of his brother.

Answer 23

God established the law of sacrifice, his parents taught all their children this and Cain was no exception.  He choose to offer something from his crop because he had no faith in the sacrifice.  Why do it, what is the point?  Why a lamb? etc. Same as you hear today over other issues.  No faith.