Priesthood of Man - Cain

As we have found out that priesthood is the foundation of our relationship with God, we have to understand the various ways man has interacted with God through the ages. Our assurance of fellowship is as a result of the past interactions between God and man. There is an important need to learn about the history of any system whatsover. History helps understand the origin of something and how mankind dealt with situations in the past and that will help shape the future for better ways and even uphold the most effectual and consistent means of remedy to the problem involved. 

This historic study of events gives a better understanding in various subjects of our lives from medical, politics, religion, sports etc. In this topic we want to enlighten ourselves with the way the men who performed the work of priesthood after Adam did ot and whether they succeeded. God had made Adam in His own image and likeness and the man, Adam, had the image of God until his fall. We discovered from the last chapter the Adam failed to perform his priestly duty and when he fell with his life he couod not stand to atone and offer sacrifices unto a holy God. 

Adam failed terribly in his divine assignment and all creation failed to experience God's goodness because of the fall of one man. The creation has waited for the day mankind shall be able to manifest as sons of God : “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” - Romans 8:19 (KJV).

The effect of Adam's sin of unbelief was so great that even the land was cursed on his behalf. The woman had to go through painful labour because of Adam's sin. The serpent has an everlasting enmity with the Seed of the woman because of Adam's sin. Even though the serpent had caused all mankind to sin through Adam, God had a remedy in preparation who would save Adam from the guilt. Since the work of atonement had to be done with someone who has no guilt before God Adam could not perform that duty because he had become guilty. Every prosterity of Adam also had sinned by default because all of them were in Adam when he sinned. The salvation of Adam coukd not come from Adam because he was guilty already. In his stead God promised the serpent that the '..the Seed of the woman shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heal' Gen 3:15

The expectation of the serpent was priesthood from the seed of the woman which she would conceive through Adam. So when Adam and Eve conceived and two sons were born unto them, Cain and Abel, the enemy knew it had to be one of them. Also in that dispensation everyone acted as a priest for themselves.

Priesthood of Cain

The “priesthood of Cain” isn’t a biblical term, but if we trace the idea from Scripture and later theological reflections, it can be understood as a symbolic or thematic contrast to the priesthood God approves.

Cain was the first person in Scripture recorded as bringing an offering to God (Genesis 4:3–5). In that sense, he acted in a priestly role — presenting a sacrifice. However, his offering was rejected, not because it was agricultural, but because it was offered without the right heart and faith (Hebrews 11:4; 1 John 3:12).

If we speak of a “priesthood of Cain,” it could refer to:

1.Self-willed Worship

Cain brought an offering of his own choosing, not one that matched God’s revealed requirement.

God's revealed sacrifice was the blood which was shed when He slaugtered an animal to cover Adam and Eve. In the blood there's life and when Adam sinned he lost life. Sacrifice for life has to be life or abundant life.

This worship of Cain by sacrifice of his own choice represents worship built on human ideas and pride, rather than obedience.

2. Lack of Faith

Hebrews 11:4 contrasts Cain’s offering with Abel’s, saying Abel’s was given “by faith.”

Faith is the foundation of acceptable priestly service — without it, worship is empty.

3. Rejection of Correction

God in His grace still visited Cain to help but when God warned Cain to correct his attitude (Genesis 4:6–7), he refused.

A “Cain-like priesthood” resists repentance and persists in resentment.

4. Violence Against the Righteous

Cain killed Abel, the righteous priest, showing that false priesthood often opposes true worship.

This pattern reappears throughout Scripture (e.g., prophets persecuted by corrupt leaders).

Symbolically, the “priesthood of Cain” stands for a ministry or worship life that:

Operates in self-effort rather than divine instruction

Lacks a heart aligned with God

Resists correction and breeds jealousy

Ultimately becomes hostile to those walking in truth.

We will at the priesthood of Abel in the next chapter