THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
After speaking in general, he then unfolds the matter by pointing to persons. A valiant man is worth a whole universe, as the Apostle later expressed it.
After pointing to the example of a hundred or two hundred persons, and knowing that number is not important in comparison with quality, he then said, “of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb 11:38).
“By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain.” See whom he points to first of all: one who suffered, and suffered from a brother.
That brother had suffered no wrong from him, but envied God’s favor. This suffering was close to them, “for,” he says, “you suffered the same things from your own countrymen” (1 Thess 2:14).
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At the same time he shows that they too suffered from envy and hatred. Abel honored God, and he died because he honored Him. Yet he had not yet received the resurrection.
His good disposition was revealed, and what depended on him was done. But what depends on God had not yet been granted to him.
“Better”: by this the Apostle here means a sacrifice that was superior, more excellent, and more necessary. We cannot say, he says, that it was not accepted.
God accepted it and said to Cain, “If you do well, will you not lift up your face?” (Gen 4:7). Therefore Abel both offered rightly and divided rightly.
Yet what reward did he receive for this? He was slain by his brother’s hand. The condemnation to which his father had been subjected for sin was first taken upon himself by the righteous son.
He suffered all the more grievously because he suffered from his brother, and first of all. He did a righteous deed without seeing an example in anyone.
Indeed, looking to whom did he honor God in this way? To his father and mother? But they had offended God after His benefactions.
To his brother? But he too did not honor Him. Thus Abel performed the good deed on his own.
And when he was worthy of honor, what did he receive? He was put to death.
Then the Apostle gives him another praise. “Through it,” he says, “he received testimony that he was righteous, God testifying concerning his gifts; and through it he still speaks, though dead.”
How else was it testified that he was righteous? It is said in Scripture that fire came down and consumed his sacrifices.
Instead of “And the Lord looked upon Abel and upon his gift,” one translator reads, “and He set it aflame” (Gen 4:4).
Thus God testified, both by words and by deed, that he was righteous. And yet, seeing him being slain for His sake, He did not prevent it, but permitted it.
But with you, says the Apostle, it is not so. How much more is this true when you have prophets, examples, and many exhortations, signs, and wonders?
Thus there, in truth, there was faith. What wonders did Abel see to be convinced that some good things would be given him in recompense?
Was he not virtuous by faith alone? What does “through it he still speaks, though dead” mean? So as not to bring them to despair, the Apostle shows that Abel partly received a reward.
What reward? That he is much remembered, he says. This is exactly what he expressed in the words, “through it he still speaks, though dead.”
That is, his brother killed him, but he did not kill his glory and honor along with him. Abel has not died.
In the same way you also will not die, because the more grievously one suffers, the greater his glory becomes.
How then does he “speak though dead”? This is the mark of life, when all glorify, exalt, and bless someone.
One who persuades others to be righteous certainly “speaks.” His suffering is more effective than speech.
As the heaven, merely by being seen, “speaks,” so Abel also speaks by being remembered. Even if he himself preached about himself, and even if he had a thousand tongues and were alive, he would not be admired as he is now.
To say it another way, such glory is not attained without suffering and easily, nor does it disappear.