ACC ~ Hebrews 2 v15

NO SENSE OF PLEASURE. CHRYSOSTOM: But what does it mean that “through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage”? He either means that he who fears death is a slave and submits to all things rather than die; or that all people were slaves of death and were held under death’s power because he had not yet been done away. Or [it means] that people lived in continual fear, ever expecting that they should die, and, being afraid of death, could have no sense of pleasure while this fear was present with them. ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 4.6.

YOKE OF MORTALITY. THEODORET OF CYR: How is it possible, he is saying, for Christ to style himself our brother or call us really children unless he bears the same nature? Hence on assuming it he overcame the influence of death and did away with the dread besetting us. We lived ever in the dread of death because we were forced to haul the yoke of mortality. Now, it was very necessary for him to use the phrase “likewise” so as to refute the calumny of mere appearance. INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 2.

THOSE WHOM THE FEAR OF DEATH RULED. EPHREM THE SYRIAN: “Since therefore the children,” summoned through his promise, “share in flesh and blood,” that is sin, as signified by flesh, “and he himself likewise partook of the same nature” in the likeness of flesh, he was mingled with them, so that he might become for them a model of goodness. He consigned himself to death, so that through his death “he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil,” who instilled death into living creatures when the fruit was eaten. So he died in order “to free,” through his death, those over whom the fear of death ruled and “who were, for all their lives, subject to the slavery of eternal death.” You do not receive the medicine that vivifies your life from angels, but from the seed itself of Abraham, to whom it was said, “In your seed all nations will be blessed.” “So he had to become similar in everything . . .” to the children of Abraham, “in order to become as merciful” as Moses, who, as an image of the Son, devoted himself to the salvation of the children of his nation. And [he had to become similar] also in order to become faithful and save all the nations from death, like Aaron, who in the mystery of the Son repelled death from the children of his generation by using the censor, which he received to oppose death. God appointed him high priest not for those things which are generously given to us through sacrifices, as through Eleazar,but for those which are spiritually granted to us in him: that is, in order that he becomes the propitiator through baptism and not through aspersion.

“Because he himself has suffered and been tempted”—that is, he was tempted through his becoming connatural with us—he is able to assist those who are infirm in their weakness and victims of temptation. In fact, he is now made aware of … the weakness of flesh and knows humans more fully after clothing himself with flesh. COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HE-BREWS.

LAUGHING DEATH TO SCORN. CHRYSOSTOM: He shows not only that death has been put to an end, but also that thereby he who is ever showing that war without truce against us—I mean the devil—has been brought to nothing; since he fears that death is not out of reach of the devil’s tyranny. “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life.” When anyone has determined to disregard even this, of what then will he be the slave? He fears no one, he is in terror of no one, he is higher than all and freer than all. For he who disregards his own life will much more disregard all other things. And when the devil finds a soul such as this, he can accomplish in it none of his works. Why? Tell me, shall he threaten with loss of property and degradation and banishment from one’s country? But these are small matters to him who “counts not even his life dear,” according to the blessed Paul. You see that, in casting out the tyranny of death, he also overthrew the strength of the devil. For him who has learned to study innumerable truths concerning the resurrection, why should he fear death? Why should he shudder any more?

Therefore, do not be grieved, saying, “Why do we suffer such and such things?” For so the victory becomes more glorious. And it would not have been glorious unless by death he had destroyed death; but the most wonderful thing is that he conquered him by the very means by which he was strong, showing at every point the abundance of his means and the excellence of his plans. Let us not then prove false to the gift bestowed on us. “For God,” he says, “did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power and love and self-control.”Let us stand then nobly, laughing death to scorn. ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 4.6-7.

Heb