Am I my brother's keeper?

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” That was a rhetorical question that Cain posed to God when God asked him where his brother was. God knew that Cain had murdered his brother Able, and like his father, Cain tried to hide his sin from God.This passage has become a political platitude, insinuating that God’s word has mandated us to be our brother’s keepers. “Am I my brother’s keeper” was a smart elect remark by an impious sinner; however, there is a little of truth in what Cain said. He was trying to hide his sin from God and he directed God’s question away from his knowledge of the whereabouts of Able to the fact that Able was a grown man and Cain was not his keeper or his babysitter, or his guardian, which he wasn’t. The fact that one would use this scripture as a basis for political action shows true ignorance of Holy Writ. Why would anyone use this passage as an example for how we should treat one another?

Here are four reasons why the phrase “my brother’s keeper” does not mean what they think it means.

First, it was the words of a murderer. This is not the compassionate words of someone who was lookingout for their fellow man. No one would want to be protected like Cain protected Able. “when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. “

Secondly, it was a lie. When God asked Cain where his brother was, he said “I know not, am I my brother’s keeper?” First, both Cain and God knew where Able was because God knows all things, and Cain just murdered Able. Even though there was an element of truth to what Cain said about being his brother’s keeper, he was trying to keep secret that which was required to be revealed. Cain was standing before God, and was asked a direct question, and Cain lied to God by concealing the truth. A cause should not have, as their foundation, the words of a lying murderer.

Third, it was a cover up. Cain was trying to hide his sin from God. It was not a call to social justice, rather the deceptive cover up of a criminal. His mother and father, Adam and Eve, had tried to cover up their sin in the garden with fig leaves; here Cain tries to keep under wraps his sin. “Am I my brother’s keeper” was not a call to give a helping hand to those who need it, but to conceal a murder and mask his sin. Rather than falling to his face and begging God for mercy, he tries to talk his way out of trouble. Rather than trusting in God for forgiveness of sins, he trusts in himself again, rejecting God for the second time. He attempted to worship God by the works of his hands by offering a sacrifice of works to God rather than the acceptable blood sacrifice typifying Christ’s death and shedding of His blood for remission or sins, but now he tries again to rely on his works to cover his sins.

Fourth, it was an irreverent, smart mouthed remark to God. What a foolish way to address the Almighty God. The fact that God did not immediately destroy Cain is a picture of God’s longsuffering and goodness to even the most hardened sinners. People have not changed. The loathsome language that people spew forth about God is terrifying. Only God knows if blasphemy has ever reached a higher point than is prevalent today, and certainly I do not want that question to be the motto of our land. So, being my brother’s keeper is not the best of scriptures to encourage people to follow.

There are plenty of passages referring to helping our fellow man, loving our neighbor as ourselves and giving, but this is not one of them. Or, perhaps it is the perfect passage for socialism; the words of a lying, murdering, ungodly smart mouth, with a disdain for God and His people.