人非有信，就不能得神的喜悦；因为到神面前来的人，必须信有神，且信祂赏赐那寻求祂的人。（来十一6，另译）
到了献祭的时候，该隐拿地里的出产为供物献给耶和华。亚伯却将他羊群中头生的，和羊的脂油献上。耶和华看中了亚伯和他的供物，只是看不中该隐和他的供物。这是因为亚伯听从神的吩咐和父母的教训，以流血的祭牲献上给神；而该隐却没有照神所吩咐的，却以地里的出产代替流血的祭牲献给神为供物。该隐没有听从父母的话，献上神所吩咐的祭物，却因着神没有看中他的供物，就大大的发怒，脸色下沉。他心中一面不服神，一面也嫉恨弟弟亚伯，因为神喜悦亚伯的祭物。该隐完全忘记了父母的教导，必须献上流血的牲畜为祭物，罪才能得到赦免。
神看中了亚伯和他的供物，“看中”这辞是很有分量的。神看中了一个人，这乃是那人的光荣。亚伯是第一位得神尊重并看中的人。那时，他是地上最荣耀的人。相反的，神没有看中该隐的供物，因为他带来地的出产，是没有流血的。这就是他拒绝从父母所听见神救赎的路。照该隐的父母所得的启示，神救赎的路乃是牺牲流血的路，因为没有流血就没有赦罪（来九22）。在神眼中，人已经堕落、败坏、有罪并受污染了。人需要流血才得赦罪。
该隐的父母必定把神救赎的路告诉了他，但他拒绝了这路，把这路撇在一边。该隐不在意神的路；他照着自己的观念，发明了他自己的路。现在我们能明白神不接受该隐献祭的原因。该隐知道神所要的是流血的牺牲，但他没有那样作。他照自己的观念敬拜神，没有流血，也没有牺牲的皮遮盖。那就是他拒绝神的路，不接受基督作神的义遮盖他。因此，他的献祭对神乃是侮辱；这在神眼中是可憎恶的，神拒绝了这种献祭。犹大书十一节说到有些人“走了该隐的道路”。什么是该隐的道路？该隐的道路就是行善讨神喜悦，凭人自己的努力，照人自己的发明来敬拜神。
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God Regarded and Respected Abel’s Offering — Gen. 4:4-5, Heb. 11:6
When it came time to offer sacrifices, Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to Jehovah. But Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. Jehovah regarded Abel and his offering, but He did not regard Cain and his offering. This was because Abel obeyed God’s command and his parents’ teaching, offering to God a sacrifice with the shedding of blood. Cain, however, did not follow God’s command. Instead, he replaced the blood sacrifice with the produce of the ground as his offering to God. Cain ignored his parents’ instruction to offer the sacrifice God had required. Because God did not accept his offering, Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. In his heart, he was both rebellious toward God and envious of his brother Abel, whose offering God had accepted. Cain completely forgot his parents’ teaching — that only through the offering of a slain animal could sins be forgiven.
God regarded Abel and his offering. The word regarded carries great weight. For God to regard a person is that person’s glory. Abel was the first man honored and respected by God; at that time, he was the most glorious person on earth. In contrast, God did not regard Cain’s offering because he brought the fruit of the ground, an offering without the shedding of blood. This meant that he had rejected the way of redemption which he had heard from his parents. According to the revelation given to Cain’s parents, God’s way of redemption was the way of sacrifice through blood, for “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Heb. 9:22). In God’s eyes, mankind had already fallen, become corrupt, sinful and defiled. Man needed the shedding of blood to receive forgiveness.
Cain’s parents surely told him of God’s way of redemption, but he rejected it and cast it aside. He had no regard for God’s way; instead, according to his own concept, he invented his own way. Now we can understand why God did not accept Cain’s sacrifice. Cain knew that what God desired was a blood sacrifice, but he refused to do it. He worshiped God according to his own ideas, without blood, and without the covering of a sacrificial skin. In doing so, he rejected God’s way and refused to accept Christ as God’s righteousness to cover him. Therefore, his sacrifice was an insult to God; in God’s sight, it was abominable, and God rejected such worship. Verse 11 in Jude speaks of some who “have gone the way of Cain.” What is the way of Cain? It is seeking to please God by doing good works, relying on one’s own effort, and worshiping God according to human invention.