The fear of death
“…and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
Hebrews 2:15 ESV
NIV ~ “and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
NLT ~ “Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”
HELPS WORD STUDY
Slavery: Cognate: 1397 douleía (a feminine noun) – bondage, a brand of slavery (enslavement). See 1401 (doulos).
1401 doúlos (a masculine noun of uncertain derivation) – properly, someone who belongs to another; a bond-slave, without any ownership rights of their own. Ironically, 1401 /doúlos ("bond-slave") is used with the highest dignity in the NT – namely, of believers who willingly live under Christ's authority as His devoted followers.
Thayers Notes ~
ἔνοχος, ἔνοχον, equivalent to ὁ ἐνεχόμενος, one who is held in anything, so that he cannot escape; bound, under obligation, subject to, liable: with the genitive of the thing by which one is bound, δουλείας, Hebrews 2:15; used of one who is held by, possessed with, love and zeal for anything; ……. which makes me mindful of Jesus saying you can’t serve two masters!
We look at this verse and think of the physical aspect of death and while there is that, I do believe the great reality is the death processes we work out daily. The invite to “deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Jesus”, is something we all must choose on every occasion our will is crossed with His.
This invite; to deny self, is the first of three steps ~ deny self; take up your cross and then follow Jesus. We are to follow exactly as prescribed for wholeness. You can’t do three before one and two. We find divine order set before us. His way is narrow and there is a press to unload every thing that would hinder our entrance.
Hebrews 2:15 touches the problem we face in step one; the fear of dying that must be dealt with. This fear of death touches so many areas of heart and mind, thoughts and feelings where the process of dying leaves one vulnerable and exposed; but without doing so, I cannot follow Jesus. He, for the joy set before Him, endured all the shame, betrayal, rejection of man and friend as He yielded Himself to the Fathers greater purpose. I’ve always been a tad bit disturbed by Isaiah 53:10 and thankful for the end of verse 11. What Jesus chose to endure does benefit all of humanity.
Our death to self worked through in Jesus will always yields a greater benefit for the greater good - mine and others.
The process always begins with the willingness to acknowledge my fear and then and only then can I begin to allow and receive His perfect love to dispel my fears.
Hebrews tells us it is through this fear of death, that we are held in bondage, held in a position of slavery. My desire to ‘care’ for me is my greater love. Revelation reminds us those who overcome did not love their life to the extent it prevented their obedience.
Please go back and note Thayer's comments; “one who is held by, possessed with, love and zeal for anything;”
We face our true love every time we meet the crossroad of His will and mine. There is nothing about the process that enables us to escape pain free. It sometimes seems to come with as much agony as we saw displayed by Jesus in the garden. We must not only know, we must also believe, with the temptation, He provides a way of escape.
We are not left helpless or alone as we die to self. We have help, grace and peace flowing to us from the Godhead. The question is whether or not I will come to Him and receive what He has to give.
Again, it is only his perfect love that has the power to dispel this fear of death. We can’t serve two masters. I die daily, that’s my choice and the road to abundant life.