Charles Ellicott Commentary Hebrews 2:14

"Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" — Hebrews 2:14 (ASV)

Since then . . .—The two parts of this verse directly recall the thoughts of Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 2:9:

1. It was the will of God that salvation should be won by the Son for sons.
2. This salvation could only be won by means of death.

The children.—This is said with reference to Hebrews 2:13.

Flesh and blood.—Literally, blood and flesh; the familiar order of the words is departed from here and in Ephesians 6:12. This designation of human nature on its material side is found four times in the New Testament and is extremely common in Jewish writers.

The emphasis of the following statement is noteworthy: He Himself also in like manner took part of the same things. His assumption of our nature had for its object suffering and death.

Destroy him.—Rather, bring him to nothing; annul his power. The comment on these words will be found in Hebrews 9:15 and Hebrews 9:26; for it was as the lord of sin, which was the cause of death (Romans 5:12) and the sting of death (1 Corinthians 15:56), that the devil held dominion over death (or, as the words might mean, wielded the power possessed by death). (Compare 2 Timothy 1:10, 1 John 3:8, and Revelation 1:18.)

Combined with this is the thought which runs through this chapter—the assimilation of the Redeemer to the redeemed in the conditions of His earthly life. By meeting death Himself, He vanquishes and destroys death for them.