--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God…" description: "\"Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God because it was made according to God's instructions. Cain, however, tried to approach God in his own way and was r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/robert-jeffress-4866_abel_abel-s-sacrifice-was-accepted-by-god-bec_44312.jpg" --- # Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God because it was made… ![“Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God because it was made according to God's instructions. Cain, however, tried to approach God in his own way and was rejected by God (Genesis 4:3-5). From that point on, Cain became a symbol of those who try to approach God on their own terms.” quote by Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/robert-jeffress-4866_abel_abel-s-sacrifice-was-accepted-by-god-bec_44312.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/robert-jeffress-4866_abel_abel-s-sacrifice-was-accepted-by-god-bec_44312.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51e/robert-jeffress-4866_abel_abel-s-sacrifice-was-accepted-by-god-bec_44312.jpg) > “Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God because it was made according to God's instructions. Cain, however, tried to approach God in his own way and was rejected by God (Genesis 4:3-5). From that point on, Cain became a symbol of those who try to approach God on their own terms.” [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obedience to divine instruction yields acceptance, while self‑directed attempts at the sacred lead to rejection. **In simple terms:** Faithful obedience vs. self‑reliant approach. Key Takeaway Follow prescribed guidance to be received. Themes obedience pride divine authority spiritual humility human autonomy Mood reverent cautionary instructive Type biblical didactic When to use this quote - personal prayer - church teaching - ethical decision‑making - spiritual counseling Key Concepts theology biblical narrative moral lesson Practical Applications - sermon illustration - devotional study Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to approach the divine on your own terms? - How can we discern when guidance is needed? A Different Perspective Some argue that sincere intent, not method, determines divine response. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abel/) [Abel Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abel-sacrifice-656005/) [Accepted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepted/) [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cain/) [Cain Symbol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cain-symbol-656006/) [Cain Tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cain-tried-656007/) [Genesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genesis/) [Instruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruction/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Rejected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejected/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Sacrifice Accepted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice-accepted-656008/) [Symbols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbols/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“perfect—Cain rose up and slew his brother Abel. For Abel’s sacrifice, an innocent lamb, had found favor with Jehovah. This, Noah said, showed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaughn-heppner/perfect-cain-rose-up-and-slew-his-brother-abel-for-abel-s-sacrifice/) [Vaughn Heppner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaughn-heppner/) > [“Cain, the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, had also been the first to start his own religion. He came to Jehovah not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaughn-heppner/cain-the-firstborn-son-of-adam-and-eve-had-also-been-the-first-to/) [Vaughn Heppner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaughn-heppner/) > [Do you know something? The minute that blood sacrifice was accepted, Jesus was the first human being that was ever born again. Now that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/do-you-know-something-the-minute-that-blood-sacrifice-was-accepted/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [It is often observed that the first casualty of war is truth, but how do you tell the truth without betraying the sacrifice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/it-is-often-observed-that-the-first-casualty-of-war-is-truth-but-how/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [On the whole, we're a murderous race. According to Genesis, it took as few as four people to make the planet too crowded to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/on-the-whole-we-re-a-murderous-race-according-to-genesis-it-took-as/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [ My interpretation is different. God asks Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" \[Genesis 4:9\] And Cain answers "Lo yadati, "I don't know" or "I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/my-interpretation-is-different-god-asks-cain-where-is-your-brother/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [When we're good, we're very, very good, and when we're bad, we're horrid. This is not news, because we're so much more inventive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/when-we-re-good-we-re-very-very-good-and-when-we-re-bad-we-re-horrid/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Desert Eagles, they twins, I call em Cain and Abel. Hundred K in my pocket, that shit as thick as a Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-jeezy/desert-eagles-they-twins-i-call-em-cain-and-abel-hundred-k-in-my/) [Young Jeezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-jeezy/) > [What always strikes me in the story of Cain and Abel is how often the word "brother" is used. Cain killed his "brother." God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-boesak/what-always-strikes-me-in-the-story-of-cain-and-abel-is-how-often-the/) [Allan Boesak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-boesak/) > [“Maté a Abel porque no podía matarte a ti, pero en mi intención estás muerto.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/mat-a-abel-porque-no-pod-a-matarte-a-ti-pero-en-mi-intenci-n-est-s/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [We do not wonder that there is conflict in the world. There is now, and has been from the time that Cain slew Abel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/we-do-not-wonder-that-there-is-conflict-in-the-world-there-is-now-and/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Let's be honest, the cards' on the table: Jealousy's a sin, Cain killed Abel. Backstabber...Caesar had Brutus. It's hard to weed 'em out, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pusha-t/let-s-be-honest-the-cards-on-the-table-jealousy-s-a-sin-cain-killed/) [Pusha T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pusha-t/) > [“No one can ever say the name Abel without saying Cain first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberley-troutte/no-one-can-ever-say-the-name-abel-without-saying-cain-first/) [Kimberley Troutte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberley-troutte/) > [This is a very violent place to live, the Earth, and we're a very violent species. Cain is still killing Abel. We see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/this-is-a-very-violent-place-to-live-the-earth-and-we-re-a-very/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Take the story of Cain and Abel. Why were we given that story? Scientifically, you may have an explanation for it, but I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/take-the-story-of-cain-and-abel-why-were-we-given-that-story/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) ## More by Robert Jeffress > [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. I think every Christian needs to make up his own mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-m-not-here-trying-to-convince-anybody-to-vote-for-donald-trump-i/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [I've said I want the meanest, toughest SOB I can find to protect America. And so that's why Trump's tone doesn't bother me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-ve-said-i-want-the-meanest-toughest-sob-i-can-find-to-protect/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [Jesus was not this wimpy little guy who walked around munching sunflower seeds and saying nice things to people. The real Jesus of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/jesus-was-not-this-wimpy-little-guy-who-walked-around-munching/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [I believe there are going to be millions of Catholics in Heaven because they trusted in Christ as their savior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-believe-there-are-going-to-be-millions-of-catholics-in-heaven/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [A candidate's faith is not the only consideration, but should be a major consideration in electing the president of the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/a-candidate-s-faith-is-not-the-only-consideration-but-should-be-a/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [There are no perfect politicians - just as there are no perfect pastors or voters. We are all sinners in need of a Savior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/there-are-no-perfect-politicians-just-as-there-are-no-perfect-pastors/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [If our faith is the most important part of our lives, then our religious views influence every other part of our lives, including our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/if-our-faith-is-the-most-important-part-of-our-lives-then-our/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [My wife and I have many friends that are gay, and we welcome LGBT people to attend our church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/my-wife-and-i-have-many-friends-that-are-gay-and-we-welcome-lgbt/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [Any tool that helps instill God's Word in the lives of people is something I can enthusiastically endorse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/any-tool-that-helps-instill-god-s-word-in-the-lives-of-people-is/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [These protesters, opposing me or our church, they're protesting the eternal Word of God, and guess what - they're not going to be successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/these-protesters-opposing-me-or-our-church-they-re-protesting-the/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [Most Americans know we are in a mess, and as they look at Donald Trump, they believe he is the one leader who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/most-americans-know-we-are-in-a-mess-and-as-they-look-at-donald-trump/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [While love is one of God's attributes, it's not his only attribute. God is also holy and just.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/while-love-is-one-of-god-s-attributes-it-s-not-his-only-attribute-god/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [Of the seven billion people who reside on planet Earth, only 25% could, in the broadest sense of the word, be classified as "Christian"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/of-the-seven-billion-people-who-reside-on-planet-earth-only-25-could/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [If there is a great white throne judgment in which all unbelievers are going to be judged and sentenced to an eternity in hell,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/if-there-is-a-great-white-throne-judgment-in-which-all-unbelievers/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [I think God gives medication that heals some illnesses. But I think when you deny the reality of evil, you want to use medicine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-think-god-gives-medication-that-heals-some-illnesses-but-i-think/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) [Explore all 105 Robert Jeffress quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) ## More Abel quotes > [Take the story of Cain and Abel. Why were we given that story? Scientifically, you may have an explanation for it, but I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/take-the-story-of-cain-and-abel-why-were-we-given-that-story/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“Abel flared his Grace and allowed the power to spark behind his eyes. “That is the second minor insult you’ve tossed my way. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-skinner/abel-flared-his-grace-and-allowed-the-power-to-spark-behind-his-eyes/) [Tricia Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-skinner/) > [This is a very violent place to live, the Earth, and we're a very violent species. Cain is still killing Abel. We see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/this-is-a-very-violent-place-to-live-the-earth-and-we-re-a-very/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Until now the theory of infinite series in general has been very badly grounded. One applies all the operations to infinite series as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-henrik-abel/until-now-the-theory-of-infinite-series-in-general-has-been-very/) [Niels Henrik Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-henrik-abel/) > [There are very few theorems in advanced analysis which have been demonstrated in a logically tenable manner. Everywhere one finds this miserable way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-henrik-abel/there-are-very-few-theorems-in-advanced-analysis-which-have-been/) [Niels Henrik Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-henrik-abel/) > [Abel has left mathematicians something to keep them busy for five hundred years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hermite/abel-has-left-mathematicians-something-to-keep-them-busy-for-five/) [Charles Hermite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hermite/) > [“No one can ever say the name Abel without saying Cain first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberley-troutte/no-one-can-ever-say-the-name-abel-without-saying-cain-first/) [Kimberley Troutte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberley-troutte/) > [Let's be honest, the cards' on the table: Jealousy's a sin, Cain killed Abel. Backstabber...Caesar had Brutus. It's hard to weed 'em out, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pusha-t/let-s-be-honest-the-cards-on-the-table-jealousy-s-a-sin-cain-killed/) [Pusha T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pusha-t/) > [“I hate fucking pussies like that." Felix reached out and shook Hector's hand. "Good for you, man. I would've cracked him too." He turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-reyes/i-hate-fucking-pussies-like-that-felix-reached-out-and-shook-hector-s/) [Elizabeth Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-reyes/) > [We do not wonder that there is conflict in the world. There is now, and has been from the time that Cain slew Abel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/we-do-not-wonder-that-there-is-conflict-in-the-world-there-is-now-and/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“There's so much love in him, Dad." The mating bond showed her a depth of feeling, of heart, even greater than she'd imagined. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/there-s-so-much-love-in-him-dad-the-mating-bond-showed-her-a-depth-of/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [No mathematician should ever allow him to forget that mathematics, more than any other art or science, is a young man's game. ... Galois…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-mathematician-should-ever-allow-him-to-forget-that-mathematics/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I switched to my new trainer Abel Sanchez to add versatility to my game. I'm coming to fight a serious fight. If I knock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavoris-cloud/i-switched-to-my-new-trainer-abel-sanchez-to-add-versatility-to-my/) [Tavoris Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavoris-cloud/) > [“Maté a Abel porque no podía matarte a ti, pero en mi intención estás muerto.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/mat-a-abel-porque-no-pod-a-matarte-a-ti-pero-en-mi-intenci-n-est-s/) [José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [What always strikes me in the story of Cain and Abel is how often the word "brother" is used. Cain killed his "brother." God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-boesak/what-always-strikes-me-in-the-story-of-cain-and-abel-is-how-often-the/) [Allan Boesak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-boesak/) [Browse all 53 Abel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God because it was made according to God's instructions. Cain, however, tried to approach God in his own way and was rejected by God (Genesis 4:3-5). 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