Are we our brother’s keeper?

The question is as old as the first family of the Bible. It was directed to God. It wasn’t an honest question, however. It was Cain’s attempt to cover up the murder of his brother.

Since Adam and Eve’s son Cain slew his brother, Abel, so many “Cains” have risen up. The earth is awash in the blood of millions murdered because of hate, anger, greed, jealousy, revenge, and the desire to take what belongs to others. It cries out to God from the grounds of all nations. It flows from unjust wars, from fights in our streets, from evil people who get a thrill from their kill, from the abusive husband, from the vengeful wife, from parents who snuff out the lives of their children, from violent children who murder their parents, from out-of-control bullies who bash the weak to death, from brothers and sisters who hate instead of love one another.

We don’t always do the actual killing ourselves.

We keep silent as our leaders withhold food from the starving, withhold medicines from the sick, put people in prison unlawfully. We let the homeless die from freezing cold or merciless heat. We stand idly by while murderous bands vent their rage on the man, woman or child who is defenseless against them. We turn our backs on those in need, and tell ourselves they are to blame for their misfortunes. 

When we focus our time and energy on what our brother or sister is doing, or when we fret that our brother or sister may be “getting more” than us, we fail to focus and put all our energy into doing our best.

Did you know the disciple Peter was rebuked by Jesus for asking about another disciple’s duty? The story is found in John 21. Before Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. After the resurrection Jesus asked Peter three times to answer the question: Do you love me? Peter affirmed his love for Jesus three times. Jesus spoke to Peter of future things. Then Peter saw his fellow disciple John. Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus: Lord, and what shall this man do?

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.—John 21:21-22

In other words, we are to carry out our missions in life; not waste time and energy fretting that another may have a more important mission than we do.

Peter got back on track. He became one of the Lord’s most ardent messengers.

When we choose the ways of Cain, God will hear the blood of the innocent cry out from the ground. Like Cain, we must one day answer to God when He asks about our treatment of our brothers and sisters. He will not excuse us when we cry to Him, “Am I my brother‘s keeper?”

Cain and Abel of the Bible

The story of Cain and Abel is found in Genesis, chapter 4.

Cain had jealousy and hate in his  heart toward his brother, Abel.

God approved of Abel’s offering. He disapproved of Cain‘s offering. Cain became angry when his offering didn‘t pass God’s test of honesty — that offerings to Him be made willingly and gratefully. 

When Cain’s face fell, God asked: “Why are you wroth? And why is your countenance fallen? If you do well, shall you not be accepted? and if you do not well, sin lies at the door.”

Cain chose not to address the “sin” at his door. Instead, he clubbed his brother to death.

God gave Cain a chance to confess. “Where is Abel thy brother?” God asked. Cain lied. “I know not,” he said. Then he asked, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” From the beginning man has sought to conceal his evil acts.

“What have you done?” God asked. “The voice of your brother‘s blood cries unto me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the earth, which opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; When you till the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shall you be in the earth.”

Cain feared he would be slain by whoever found him. God, however, set a mark on Cain so he would not be killed by others. This little gem of knowledge — that there were more people on the earth than Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel — is often ignored by many. Yet, God Himself verified that there were “others” in the world at that time.

According to Genesis, Cain left the presence of God and went to the land of Nod, east of Eden. He found a wife. They had a son, Enoch. Cain built a city and named it after his son.

Cain’s legacy is a bloody one. He murdered his brother, and his brother’s blood cried out to God.

Are we our brother’s keeper?

Cain did not answer God’s question, “Where is Abel thy brother?” He evaded it. Yet, the question, “Am I my brother‘s keeper?” is still asked. I fear we ask it with the same phony motive Cain devised — a smokescreen to cover-up the sins that lie at our door. 

It is clear in both Old and New Testaments that we are not to harm to our brothers and sisters.

Indeed, we are to help them in times of need. While nothing in Scripture even suggests that we are our brothers’ keepers in the sense we must control their lives, or allow them to control ours, there is a great deal that says we are to help those in need without strings attached to that help.

Old Testament Examples:

When Lot, the son of Abraham’s brother, was in harm’s way, Abraham sent a small army to rescue Lot and his family. — Genesis 14.

“And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shall relieve him: [yea, though he be] a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.” — Leviticus 25:35

“If there be among you a poor man of one of the brethren within any of thy gates in the land which the Lord thy God gave thee, thou shall not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother.” — Deuteronomy 15:7

“Thou shall not see thy brother‘s ass or his ox fall down by the way and hide thyself from them; thou shall surely help him to lift them up.” — Deuteronomy 22:4

New Testament Examples:

“Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shall not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (worthless one), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remembers that thy brother hath ought against thee. Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” — Matthew 5:21-24, words of Jesus

“If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” — Luke 17:3, words of Jesus

“He that says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hates his brother is in darkness, and walks in darkness, and knows not whither he goes, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” — 1 John 2:9-11

“If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loves God love his brother also.” — 1 John 4:20-21

“Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for His seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. — John 3:9-12

(The websites http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/ and http://www.bartleby.com were used to research this story.)