Meaning of Hebrews 2:14

This verse expounds upon the profound paradox of Christ's incarnation and atoning sacrifice. By becoming fully human, sharing in "flesh and blood," Jesus entered into the very realm of human experience, including mortality. This sharing in humanity was not merely a passive act but a deliberate strategy to confront and overcome the dominion of death and the devil. His death, therefore, becomes the pivotal event through which the power of sin and its ultimate consequence, death, is rendered ineffective, and the authority of the adversary, the devil, is broken. This act of divine solidarity and redemptive action is the cornerstone of Christian hope and salvation.

Context and Background

The author of Hebrews is addressing a community of Jewish Christians who were facing persecution and potentially wavering in their faith. The primary purpose of the epistle is to demonstrate the superiority of Jesus Christ over the Old Covenant system, including its sacrificial rites and angelic mediators. Chapter 2, in particular, emphasizes Jesus' humanity and his role as the ultimate High Priest and Savior. The context here is a defense of Jesus' divinity and humanity, arguing that his shared humanity was essential for his redemptive work. The author is contrasting Jesus with the angels, who are superior to humans but not divine in the same way Jesus is, and thus cannot act as a mediator between God and humanity in the same capacity.

Key Themes and Messages

• Incarnation and Solidarity: The core message is that Jesus' embodiment in human flesh and blood signifies his true and complete humanity. He did not merely appear human; he became human, experiencing its limitations and vulnerabilities. This act of solidarity is crucial for his ability to represent humanity before God and to bear its sins.
• Defeat of Death and the Devil: The verse explicitly states the purpose of Christ's incarnation and death: "to break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil." This highlights that death, in its ultimate and spiritual sense, is not an inherent part of God's creation but a consequence of sin, wielded by the devil. Christ's death, by conquering sin, effectively disarms death and its master.
• Redemption through Sacrifice: The phrase "by his death" underscores that Jesus' sacrifice is the means by which this liberation is achieved. His voluntary surrender to death, the ultimate consequence of sin, atones for humanity's sin and nullifies the devil's claim.

Spiritual Significance and Application

For believers, this verse offers immense comfort and assurance. It means that Jesus understands our struggles, our mortality, and our temptations because he lived them. His death signifies that the power of sin and death no longer has the final word over our lives. Through faith in Christ, believers are liberated from the fear of death and the dominion of the devil. This liberation is not a future event but a present reality that empowers believers to live a life free from the bondage of sin and the dread of eternal separation from God. It calls for a life of gratitude and a commitment to living in the freedom that Christ has secured.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse is a pivotal point in the unfolding narrative of redemption. It directly connects the pre-fall promise of a redeemer (Genesis 3:15) with the ultimate fulfillment in Christ. The Old Testament sacrificial system foreshadowed the perfect sacrifice that would be made once for all. Jesus, as the God-man, is the ultimate High Priest and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). His death is the climax of God's plan to reconcile humanity to himself, overcoming the curse of sin and death that entered the world through Adam.

Analogies

• A King Entering Enemy Territory: Imagine a king who wants to liberate his people from a tyrannical captor. The king, to understand the plight of his people and to effectively lead the liberation, must enter the enemy's territory, even at great personal risk. Christ, the King of Kings, entered the realm of human mortality and the dominion of death to secure our freedom.
• Breaking a Powerful Chain: The devil holds the "power of death" like a powerful chain binding humanity. Christ's death is the mighty force that shatters this chain, rendering it impotent for those who are in Christ.
• A Doctor Undergoing the Disease: A doctor might choose to contract a specific illness to fully understand its effects and develop a cure. Christ, in a profound and salvific way, "contracted" humanity's mortal condition and the sting of death to overcome it for us.

Relation to Other Verses

• John 1:14: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." This verse directly supports the incarnation described in Hebrews 2:14, emphasizing Jesus' full humanity.
• Romans 6:9: "For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him." This complements Hebrews 2:14 by stating the consequence of Christ's death and resurrection: death's power is broken.
• 1 Corinthians 15:54-57: "When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." This passage elaborates on the victory over death achieved through Christ, echoing the sentiment of Hebrews 2:14.
• Colossians 2:15: "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." This verse further clarifies the defeat of the spiritual forces, including the devil, through Christ's atoning work.