And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and killed him. Genesis 4:8
Cain is the image and picture of all hypocrites and murderers, who kill under the show of godliness. Cain, possessed by Satan, hides his wrath, waiting the opportunity to slay his brother Abel; meanwhile he converses with him, as a brother beloved, that he might the sooner lay his hands on him unawares. Let us learn to know a Cain and to beware when he speaks kindly as a brother to brother. It is in this way that our adversaries talk with us in our day, while they pretend a desire for concord, and seek to bring about doctrinal harmony.
Our ministry at the present day deserves no blame. We teach, we exhort, we entreat, we rebuke, we turn ourselves every way, that we may recall the multitude from their self-security to the fear of God. But the world, like an untamed beast, goes on and follows not the Word, but its own lusts, which it tries to smooth over with a show of righteousness & respectability. The prophets and apostles are before us as examples, and our own experience is also instructive.
Learn then what a hypocrite is, namely, one who lays claim to the worship of God and to charity, and at the same time destroys the worship of God and kills his brother. All this semblance of good will is only intended to bring about better opportunities of doing harm. Light is cast here upon the bondage of Satan by which our nature, entangled in sins, is oppressed. Hence Paul speaks of the "children of wrath" and declares that such are taken captive by Satan. For nature, destitute of the Holy Spirit, is impelled by the same evil spirit which impelled wicked Cain.
If, however, there were in any one those ample powers, or that free will, by which a person might defend themself against the assaults of Satan, these gifts would most assuredly have existed in Cain, to whom belonged the birth right and the promise of the blessed seed. All people are in that very same condition; unless our nature be helped by the Spirit of God, it cannot maintain itself.
(An excerpt taken from "Devotional Readings From Luther's Works For Every Day Of The Year" By Rev. John Sander, L.H.D.) in the Public Domain.
Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file~
You can now purchase our Partakers books! Please do click or tap here to visit our Amazon site!
Click or tap on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!
No Longer A Baby - 8. Jesus’ Relationship With The Christian
No Longer A Baby - 7. How To Be Assured You Are A Christian
No Longer A Baby - 6. Becoming a Christian
No Longer A Baby - 5. Was Jesus Christ Simply Just A Good Moral Teacher?
No Longer A Baby - 4. Why did God become a human?
No Longer A Baby - 3. Fully Human
No Longer A Baby - 2. Fully God
No Longer A Baby - 1. What's in a name
Bible Reading - Psalm 91
Bible Reading - Psalm 88
Bible Reading - Psalm 128
Bible Thought - Remember Who You Are
Testimony - Why I am a Christian
Partakers Bible Thought –The Christian and Repentance
What Christians Believe - Nicene Creed
Bible Thought - Sermon - Jesus Returns
Friday Prayers - Augustine
Bible Thought - WOW Factor of Jesus Christ - Part 28 - Why would God become human?
Bible Thought - WOW Factor of Jesus Christ - Part 27 - Jesus is fully God
Bible Thought - WOW Factor of Jesus Christ - Part 26 - Jesus is fully human
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Life After Ministry
Cast The Word
Let Me Be Frank | Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Podcast | Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
The Bible Recap
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)