Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 11:4

"By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh." — Hebrews 11:4 (ASV)

The first example of faith is Abel, who brought God a more acceptable sacrifice than did his brother Cain (Genesis 4:3–7). Scripture never says there was anything inherently superior in Abel’s offering. Some passages refer to Abel as being a righteous man (Matthew 23:35), while the author of Hebrews insists on the importance of Abel’s faith. Abel was right with God, and his offering was a demonstration of his faith.

The passive voice in “was commended” (lit., “it was testified”; GK 3455) implies that God is the subject; he bore witness to Abel’s offerings. This indicates the importance that the author attached to Abel’s sacrifice offered in faith, for rarely is God said to have borne witness. The meaning may be either that on the basis of Abel’s sacrifice God testified to his servant or that God bore witness about the gifts Abel offered. The author then stresses that Abel is not to be thought of as one long-since dead and of no present account. He is dead, but his faith is a living voice.