John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 2:15

"and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." — Hebrews 2:15 (ASV)

And deliver them who, etc. This passage expresses in a striking manner how miserable is the life of those who fear death, as they must feel it to be dreadful because they look on it apart from Christ; for then nothing but a curse appears in it.

For from where is death but from God’s wrath against sin? From this comes that bondage throughout life—even perpetual anxiety—by which unhappy souls are tormented; for through a consciousness of sin, the judgment of God is always presented to view.

From this fear Christ has delivered us, who by undergoing our curse has taken away what is dreadful in death. For though we are not now freed from death, yet in life and in death we have peace and safety, when we have Christ going before us.

But if anyone cannot pacify his mind by disregarding death, let him know that he has still made very little proficiency in the faith of Christ; for as extreme fear is owing to ignorance concerning the grace of Christ, so it is a certain evidence of unbelief.

Death here not only means the separation of the soul from the body, but also the punishment which is inflicted on us by an angry God, so that it includes eternal ruin; for where there is guilt before God, there immediately hell shows itself.