through the [Pg 18] temptation. (Compare Gen. ii. 17, iii. 19;
Wisd. ii. 24; Rom. v. 12.) But when the reference to Cain's slaying his
brother is brought forward as the sole, or even as the principal one,
we must absolutely reject it. Cain's murder of his brother comes into
consideration only as an effect of the evil principle which was
introduced into human nature by the first temptation; as, indeed, it
appears in the book of Genesis itself as the fruit of the poisonous
tree, the planting of which is detailed in chap. iii. The same
murderous spirit which impelled Satan to bring man under the dominion
of death by the lie, "Ye shall not surely die," was busy in Cain also,
and seduced him to slay his pious brother. The following reasons forbid
an exclusive reference to the deed of Cain:--1. The murdering of man by
Satan is brought into the closest connection with his _lie_. In
connection with Cain's deed, however, there was not even the appearance
of falsehood; while, in the case before us, lies, false and deceitful
promises of high blessings to be attained, and the raising of
suspicions against God, were the very means by which he seduced man,
and brought him under the power of sin. The words of Jesus, when they
are understood according to their simple meaning, carry us back to an
event in the primitive times, in which murder and the spirit of
falsehood went hand in hand. 2. The co-operation of Satan in Cain's
deed is not expressly mentioned in Genesis. That there was any such we
can with certainty infer, only if this event be viewed in close
connection with what Satan did against our first parents,--if, behind
the serpent, Satan be concealed. Whensoever Jesus has to deal with
Jews, He does not teach any mysterious doctrines, but makes an open
appeal to the events narrated in Scripture. 3. The words, "Ye are of
your father the devil," point to the seed of the serpent spoken of in
Gen. iii. 15. 4. The words, "From the beginning," direct to an event
which happened at the first beginnings of mankind, and in which our
first parents took a part. Whatever this may be, the event in question
must be the first in which the devil manifested himself as the murderer
of man. Now, as by the Jews of that time the temptation of the first
man, in consequence of which death entered the world, was attributed to
sin--and this appears not only from what has been already said, but
also from a passage in the _Sohar Chadash_, referred to by _Tho