†Questions† Why did God accept Abel's offering, but not Cain's?

Why did God accept Abel's offering but not Cain's?

Well, one possibility is that while Abel sacrificed an offering to God with a sincere heart, Cain might not have done the same. His intentions might not have been wholehearted.

Some reference verses can be found under the cut:



"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." -Hebrews 11:4

"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." - 1 John 11:4

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood there is no remission." - Hebrews 9:22


Abel offered a blood sacrifice (a lamb/sheep) while Cain offered fruit from the ground. So it could have been the wrong type of offering. Maybe God had previously provided them with instructions of what and how to make offering, but Cain didn't listen.

"For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." - Leviticus 17:11

In conclusion:
† Abel offered his sacrifice by faith (Hebrews 11:14)
† Cain must not have made his offering by faith but by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)
† Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17)