Paul tells us that Jesus isn’t ashamed to call men brethren (Hebrews 2:11). We know this is true, first, because he became man and shared in our flesh (Hebrews 2:14; John 1:1, 14). Secondly, we know he is not ashamed of us, because the Scriptures anticipated Jesus’ attitude, and they say he will declare the name of the Lord to his brethren, and in the midst of the assembly (of men) he would praise God (Psalm 22:22; cf. Hebrews 2:12), saying he places his trust in God. In other words, he expresses his faith in God and praises him, not only on his own behalf, but also on behalf of those whom God had given him (Psalm 16:1; Isaiah 8:18; cf. John 10:29). Nevertheless, what does Jesus trust God to do for him and those who are his?
Paul tell us that all men are of one blood, or, in other words, we are one race, not a collection of different races (Acts 17:26). We aren’t a white race, and a black race, and a yellow race etc. Rather, we are one blood or ‘one human race’ divided into different nations or families / clans. Therefore, with a view of saving the human race or mankind, Jesus took part in the same flesh and the same blood that identifies us as who we are in God’s creation (Hebrews 2:14). It was necessary for Jesus to take part in flesh (cf. John 1:1, 14) in order for him to “destroy him who had power over death, which is the devil” (KJV).
The English word, destroy in the KJV, translated from the Greek katargeo (G2673) is too strong a word. It would be better to say Jesus took on flesh to “render impotent him who had power over death.” That is, to render him idle, inoperative or inactive; to deprive him of his power or influence etc.[1] In other words, in the same manner that Christ “abolished” (G2673) death (2Timothy 1:10), he “destroyed” the devil. The Greek word occurs 28 times in Paul’s writings and only once elsewhere in the New Covenant, and that is Luke 13:7. There Jesus spoke of the barren fig tree, which had no fruit for three years, and he wanted to cut it down, because it “cumbered” (KJV) or wasted the soil. It didn’t destroy the soil, but, it wasted or rendered the soil’s power inoperative.
Moreover, the devil’s power over death does not represent authority over death. The Greek word is kratos (G2904) and not exousia (G1849), and there is a huge difference in the two words. Kratos (G2904) represents one’s strength, might, force, even a great work. On the other hand, exousia (G1849) represents authority, the liberty to do as one chooses, dominion, etc. While kratos can represent the great power, or might, of God, it could also describe the strength of a bully. Exousia represents legitimate authority, power, dominion, etc. The power (G2904) that Jesus rendered impotent (G2673) was the mere strength, force or might that held men in bondage (Hebrews 2:15). The power that held men in bondage wasn’t necessarily a legitimate power, but it was a force more powerful than anything mankind had at its disposal, and was, therefore, held in bondage.
Literally, it is “all their lifetime were subjects of bondage.” That is, through the fear of death, men preferred and even embraced any lifestyle rather than die. It is this attitude that caused Esau to lose his birthright. He thought he would die, unless he had a meal at that moment. So rather than die, he gave away his birthright, which he thought useless, if he had died (Genesis 25:30-34). It is this same fear of death that causes folks to hoard their goods rather than be generous to the needy, because they, through their evil works, show they have no confidence in God. If one has no hope for the future, he will celebrate the present to such an extent that he, in effect, shows his fear of coming to want. All of the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) can be traced to one’s fear of death, fear of not being able to enjoy the life one has. Therefore, it is fear that holds people in bondage to the degree that they will practice the evil deeds of the flesh rather than trust God with their lives.
Therefore, Jesus took part in flesh and blood in order that, through his own death, he could rescue those who were in bondage to the flesh (cf. Romans 8:12-17; Galatians 5:1). We have been set free from our obligation or our need to serve our flesh, i.e. compelled to fulfill its lusts. We are at liberty to walk in the Spirit by faith in Christ, trusting that what he accomplished in his death and resurrection will in due time fulfill our every desire (cf. Romans 8:16-17).
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[1] See Thayer’s Greek Definitions for G2673.
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