Genesis 4:9 And the LORD said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? I. GOD'S QUESTION — "Where is Abel thy brother?" Has God a right to expect this knowledge at our hands? He has; and that on many accounts. 1. For instance, there is the constitution of our nature. When man was created, the whole race were involved in one parent, they all sprang from one root; so that there was provision made for forming a family, and for brotherly feeling among them. God, therefore, reasonably expects that we should all feel a kindly interest and concern in one another's welfare. 2. We might argue the same from the covenant in which we were all wrapped up, to stand or fall together; from the law, which requires us to love our neighbour; and, above all, from the gospel. Has the great God loved me, pitied me, been patient with me, and at a great, unspeakable cost saved me; and shall I not be ready to deny myself and make sacrifices, in order to save and bless my fellow men? II. MAN'S ANSWER — "I know not; am I my brother's keeper?" Here is a two-fold plea — the first, ignorance; the second, an insinuation that God has no right to expect such knowledge at his hand. 1. Cain excused himself on the ground of ignorance. This is either true or false. (1) If true, then he is guilty, because he has had abundant opportunity of knowing, and ought to know. And so with yourselves. You know about your neighbour's outward estate; should you not know about his spiritual condition? (2) But Cain's plea, "I know not," was really false. He did know where Abel was. And so you do know that many around you, perhaps closely connected with you, are tempted, ensnared, perishing. 2. Cain denies that God has a right to expect that he should take trouble about Abel. "Am I my brother's keeper? Have I anything to do with him, any charge of him? Can he not take care of himself?" Is not this the feeling in many hearts? You say, Am I that poor wretch's keeper? What have I to do with him? He has no claim upon me. I have other work to do, other interests to attend to. But look again, Is he thy brother; and has he no claim upon thee? (J. Milne.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? |
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