Maybe you’re wondering, “Why weren’t Cain and his offering accepted?” Throughout the Bible, grain sacrifices were considered acceptable sacrifices, so it wasn’t due to the type of sacrifice Cain offered. The problem doesn’t seem to be with the amount he offered either, rather something about Cain himself. We know this because of what the Bible says.

First, God approached Cain and asked, “If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted?” (Genesis 4:7). Then, the author of Hebrews explained that Abel’s offering was accepted by God because he offered it in faith, unlike Cain (11:4).

• What happens when you only focus only on the behavioral aspect of sin and not on what takes place within the heart?

Cain’s sin began internally – with jealousy and anger – and eventually he acted on those internal desires when he murdered his brother. If we only focus on sinful behavior and never address our broken hearts – where the sinful actions begin – nothing changes. We can easily become like the Pharisees who tried to look good on the outside but were dead on the inside.