Hebrews 2:14

The children. That is, the children mentioned in v. 13.

Are partakers. Or, “have been made sharers.” The children share a common human nature.

He also. That is, Christ.

Took part. The form of the Greek verb suggests the thought of taking hold of something not previously possessed. This was true of Jesus: He was divine, but He took our human nature, mysteriously blending the two natures in one (see on John 1:14). That He might enter into all the experiences of mankind, Christ became man.

Through death. That is, his sacrificial death on the cross (cf. v. 9). When Jesus died on the cross, Satan appeared to have triumphed; for it seemed that even the Son of God acknowledged Satan’s power of death and became subject to it. But God had another purpose.

Destroy. Gr. katarged, “to render null and void,” “to destroy” (see on Rom. 3:3). Already Satan’s power over death has been broken, for though natural death still reigns, the resurrection is assured (see 1 Cor. 15:20-22, 51-57). Finally the originator of sin and the author of death will himself be annihilated (see on Rev. 20:10).

That had the power. Satan has the power of death because he is the originator of sin, and death results from sin (see on Rom. 5:12). His kingdom is a kingdom of death, and in it he rules. As sin rules in our lives, so death rules, and so Satan rules.

Christ was the one who entered the strong man’s house (Mark 3:27), bound the enemy, and took away his prisoners. Christ entered the realm of death — Satan’s stronghold — and wrested from Satan his prey. When he thought he had Christ in his power, when the tomb was sealed and Christ locked in, Satan exulted. But Christ burst the bonds of death and walked forth from the grave, for “it was not possible that he should be holden of it” (Acts 2:24). Not only did Christ Himself rise, but “the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection” (Matt. 27:52, 53). And so, though the “strong man armed keepeth his palace, ... a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him” (Luke 11:21, 22). The stronger man, Christ, entered the realm of death, and in death overcame him who had the power of death, took away his captives, and spoiled his house (Matt. 12:29); “and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:15). Henceforth, death for the believers is but a sleep; they rest in peace until God calls them. For many it will even be a blessed sleep (Rev. 14:13). Christ “hath abolished death” (2 Tim. 1:10). He has “the keys of hell and of death” (Rev. 1:18; cf. 1 Cor. 15:51-57).