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Senseless Killings or Natural Fruit?
In Genesis 4.3-10, we read of the first recorded murder in scripture. Further, we read in 1 John 3.12, “We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.” We learn from the last sentence why this murder was committed.
What “deeds” of Cain were evil and what “deeds” of Abel were righteous? Genesis 4 supplies us with the answer. Hebrews 11.4 also provides us valuable information on this: “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” Do you see the connection between Abel’s sacrifice and being commended as righteous? On the other hand, we read in Jude 11 of “the way of Cain” in reference to false teachers. They are like Cain in that they “despise (reject) authority” (v. 8). Also, they “walk according to their own desires” (vv. 16, 18).
God instructed both Abel and Cain in how to offer sacrifice. Abel offered “by faith,” as God commanded. Cain rejected God’s commands and offered according to his own desires. When his sacrifice was rejected as unacceptable, how did he react? We read, “Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.’” Cain did not rule over sin, but in anger took his frustration over being rejection out on his brother. Could Cain not have reacted differently?
In James 1.14-15 we find, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” What happened with Cain? The same pattern of behavior is followed by all who do not acknowledge their errors when confronted with them. Thus, we understand why murder occurs in society.
There were many such atrocities and killings like the one Cain committed. Consider: Lamech (Genesis 4.23-24), Simeon and Levi (Genesis 34.25-31), Pharaoh (Exodus 1.16,22), Moses (Exodus 2.12), Ehud (Judges 3.16-23); Jael (Judges 4.21); Abimelech (Judges 9.5,18,56), the Amelekite (2 Samuel 1.16), Abner (2 Samuel 2.18-24), etc.
All were committed out of a motive. The context bears this out in each case. Motives can be pure or impure. David murdered Uriah in 2 Samuel 11.14-17 to cover up a previous sin of fornication with Uriah’s wife. We find that Barabbas was a murderer (Mark 15.7; Acts 3.14). Herod’s actions in Acts 12.2,19 of killing James and later his own guards were impurely motivated.
A common link to such behavior is guilt. But guilt of what? Genesis 4 contains the answer: It is guilt over “not doing well.” But in what regard? In what matter was Cain rejected prior to his murder of Abel?
The Bible is clear on such things as envy, jealousy, etc. They are sins. But how does a person develop such? Can they be “ruled over” as God told Cain? Jesus told us the source of such evils in Matthew 15.11, then explained further in Matthew 15.17-20. We need to give attention to what we allow to enter our minds. When murder is committed, ought it to be considered strange and senseless? Or is it a natural fruit of a defiled mind?
Satan is called a murdered (John 8.44). How so, since we find no record of him literally slaying anyone? The answer is in this verse. What else is Satan called? Do you see the connection between murder and lying? Do you see how it is true that Satan was a murderer? Who did Satan first murder? Genesis 3 tells us.
Was his murder senseless and unexplained or was there a motive? Are there motives to what has historically been called a “senseless” killing? What of us and our motives? Can we have pure motives? Can we have evil motives?
What was true of Satan is also true of you and me, when we do as Satan did. What is your view (attitude) of lying? Do you put it in the same category as murder? Is murder viewed as worse than lying in your estimation? Remember what Jesus said of anger in Matthew 5.21-22. Murder begins in the heart (Matthew 15.19). 1 John 3.15 says, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer.” What kind of murder is under consideration here? For one to hate his brother without cause is to be a murderer. While the taking of a physical life may not occur, has not a murder been committed?
We need to view lying, hatred without cause, and murder in the same way that God does. Then and only then will we deal with it properly (Colossians 3.5-10). In Galatians 5.20, what kind of murderer does the apostle Paul have in mind? What kind of murderer did Peter have in mind in 1 Peter 4.15? Is literal murder a senseless act or is a natural fruit of sin? Ought it be thought of as strange and senseless when the Bible clearly teaches that one’s actions will be in accordance with one’s thoughts? What we allow into our minds will be acted out in our behavior. This danger has long been recognized. Such killing can end only when the source of the problem is addressed (Ephesians 5.18-19; Galatians 5.22-26).
