Catholic Typology
Jesus the new Abel
Hebrews 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Abel | Jesus | |
Shepherd | keeper of sheep (Gen 4:2) | the good shepherd (Jn 10:11) |
Offered the best to God | a first-born lamb (Gen 4:3) | himself (Heb 9:14) |
Killed | by his brother Cain because of envy (Gen 4:8) | by his brethren the Jewish leaders because of envy (Mt 26:3-4) and by us because of our sins (1 Cor 15:3) |
Bloodshed brought justice | his blood cried out from the ground to God for justice (Gen 4:9-10) | |
God's mercy to the killers | a mark on Cain so no one would attack him (Gen 4:15) |
Shepherd: Abel a keeper of sheep (Gen 4:2); Jesus the good shepherd (Jn 10:11)
Offered the best to God showing love and trust: Abel a first-born lamb (Gen 4:3); Jesus himself (Heb 9:14)
Killed:Â Abel by his brother Cain because of envy (Gen 4:8); Jesus by his brethren the Jewish leaders because of envy (Mt 26:3-4) and by us because of our sins (1 Cor 15:3)
Blood shed: Abel's blood cried out from the ground to God for justice (Gen 4:9-10); Jesus's blood brought the forgiveness of sins for the whole world (Eph 1:7; 1 Jn 2:2)
God's mercy to the killers: a mark on Cain so no one would attack him (Gen 4:15); forgiveness to the Jewish leaders (Lk 23:34) and to us (Eph 2:4-5)