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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
And observe whom he puts first, him who was ill-treated, and that by a brother. It was their own affliction, "For you also" (he says) "have suffered like things of your own countrymen." (1 Thess. ii. 14.) And by a brother who had been nothing wronged, but who envied him on God's account; showing that they also are looked on with an evil eye and envied. He honored God, and died because he honored Him: and has not yet attained to a resurrection. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Since faith is a great thing and requires a courageous soul, yet the believing Jews had become weak and, although at the beginning they did show faith, afterwards, under the influence of constant afflictions, they gave themselves over to faintheartedness — he encourages them first by their own struggle, then by Scripture, having said: "the righteous shall live by faith"; next by reasoning, saying: "faith is the substance of things hoped for" — now he encourages them by the examples of great Old Testament men. …
Oecumenius
"Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice." For whose example did Abel honor God, except that he believed by faith that there would be a compensation for these things? "by which he obtained a report that he was righteous." For when God said to Cain, "If you offer rightly, but do not divide rightly," (Gen. 4:7) He testified concerning Abel that he both offered rightly and divided rightly. It is also said that fire descended from heaven upon his burnt offering. …
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
567. – Then (v. 4) he shows what the ancient fathers did: first, he shows this of the fathers who lived before the deluge; secondly, of those who lived before the Law (v. 8); thirdly, of those who lived under the Law (v. 24). Before the deluge there were three especially pleasing to God, namely, Abel (Gen. 4:4), Enoch (Gen. 5:22) and Noah (Gen. 6:9). First, he mentions Abel's faith; secondly, Enoch's (v. 5); thirdly, Noah's (v. 7). 568. – In regard to Abel he shows what he did by faith and what he obtained. …
Bonaventure
The manner in which sacrifice was introduced is seen in the fact that Abel offered a sacrifice by faith, and so did Noah, of whose offering it is said: The Lord smelled the sweet odor. And these sacrifices represented that which Christ offered on the cross. Hence it is said, the Lord smelled: God was appeased by the death of His only Son. …
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