Lesson #7: To Destroy The Devil And Deliver Saints (Hebrews 2:14-16) Series

5/29/19

Tom Lowe

Lesson #7: To Destroy the Devil and Deliver Saints (Hebrews 2:14-16)

Scripture: Hebrews 2:14-16 (NIV)

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.

Introduction:

Drawing attention to the humanity of Christ, the writer of Hebrews drove home the point that we can trust Jesus. He was the only sinless person to ever exist. Jesus didn’t become a man so He could know us, prove anything to us, or convince us that He understood our condition. He had redemption in mind? to save us. The manger, the cross, and the empty tomb demonstrate his intention to set us free.

Jesus gave Himself for us to deliver us from the grip of Satan. The Devil has always been portrayed as the adversary of God and His kingdom. In the Old Testament, he was called the accuser whom the Lord rebuked (see Zech. 3:1-2). Jesus referred to Satan as a murderer from the beginning and a liar (see John 8:44). One of Jesus’ disciples, Simon Peter, described the Devil as a roaring lion in search of prey to devour. The Lord’s life, death, and resurrection wiped out Satan’s scheme to gain control.

Jesus also delivered us from the power of death. He set us free from spiritual slavery. Because of His resurrection, we no longer need to face death with terror. Instead, we understand that physical death gives way to eternal life in heaven with Him. In time, death will be destroyed (see 1 Cor. 15:54). We still face death but through His sacrificial death, Jesus removed the sting of death that came as a result of sin. As Christians, we can face death with confidence and anticipation. Christ became human because we needed His help as sinners. If He had not taken on flesh and bones, we would still be under the control of Satan, dreading death and without hope. His willingness to come to us and to die in our place points to His love for us.

There are several major truths expressed over and over again in the book of Hebrews. One of these truths is that we should grow up and go on in spiritual maturity. Remember, the writer constantly reminds us that Jesus is better in every way than anyone and anything that has preceded Him in the past. This book exalts Jesus Christ the Lord as superior to all. Deuteronomy 6:23 is a great reminder that Jesus Christ brought us out, in order to bring us in. As we view Christ in these writings for who He really is, and all He has certainly done, one can’t help but love Him more.

Lesson #7

(2:14) Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—

Jesus is the One who expresses trust in God as the dominant attribute of His life. He is the one who puts His arms around others and says, "I will put my trust in him." . . . "Here am I, and the children God has given me" (v. 13b). The Holy Spirit of God then begins to clarify this last statement: since “the children” share a common human nature, “he too shared “fully” in their humanity.” Jesus’ solidarity with humanity is brought out in their common origin in the Father (v. 11), their sharing in flesh and blood (v. 14), and above all their sharing in death itself.

What was the purpose of this shared situation? Jesus shared our humanity so that by His death He might destroy our Adversary, the Devil, who held the Power of death.

One of the most astonishing claims in the entire Bible is that when Jesus was born, God became a man. Just think about it. One moment He was dressed in robes of glory; the next He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. One moment He was walking on the streets of Gold; the next moment He was lying on the coarse straw of an animal trough. When Jesus Christ took upon Himself flesh and blood, it was God come down to earth in human form.

Jesus the Champion of Love

Jesus is depicted as the Champion{1] who came to the aid of God’s oppressed people. He identified Himself with them as their representative. He became locked in mortal combat with the fearsome adversary who held the power of death. He overthrew the devil in order to release those whom this evil tyrant had enslaved. Jesus is the Champion who secured the deliverance of His people through the sufferings He had endured. The translation “Champion” takes into account the distinctive and fresh presentation of the significance of Christ’s death in the passage as a whole.