And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Ver. 4. Of the firstlings of his flock.] He brought the best of the best; a not anything that came next to hand, as Cain seems to have done, holding anything good enough, as did those rich wretches that cast brass-money b into the treasury. "But cursed be that cheat who has a male in his flock, and offers to God a corrupt thing." "Offer it now to thy Prince," will he be content with thy refuse stuff? Behold, "I am a great King," saith God. Malachi 1:8 ; Mal 1:14 He stands upon his seniority, and looks to be honoured with the best of our substance. Mary that loved much, thought nothing too much for her sweet Saviour. She brought an alabaster box of ointment of great price, and poured it upon him, and he defends her in it against those that held it waste. Joh 12:7 Among the Papists, their Lady of Loretto hath her churches so stuffed with vowed presents of the best, as they are fain to hang their cloisters and churchyards with them. c Shall not their superstition rise up and condemn our irreligion, our slubbering service, and doughbaked duties? The Turks build their private houses low and homely, but their mosques or temples stately and magnificent. d
Had respect to Abel and his offering.] "The eyes of the Lord are still upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers": 1Pe 3:11 he "looks" Isa 66:2 upon such with singular delight, with special intimation of his love; he is "ravished with one of their eyes," lifted up in prayer, "with one chain of their graces"; Son 4:9 whenas he was no whit affected with the offer of all the world's glory. Mat 4:8-10 He saith of such to the wicked, as the prophet said of Jehoshaphat to the king of Israel, "Surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee," - Cain 2Ki 3:14 here, for instance.
a See Numbers 18:12; Numbers 18:29. "Fat" taken for the best of all things.
b χαλκον. Mar 12:41
c Sir Edward Sandy's Relation of West. Relig .
d Turk. Hist ., fol. 342.