Why Did Jesus Have to Die? A Restorative Look at Hebrews 2
Why did Jesus have to die? It’s one of the most profound and debated questions in Christian theology. Many Christians are taught that Jesus died to satisfy God’s wrath and pay the penalty for sin—a view known as Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA). This traditional interpretation is summarized well in this article from GotQuestions.org.. But Hebrews 2:14–17 offers a different, more beautiful vision. In this concise and powerful passage, we discover that Jesus’ death wasn’t about appeasing an angry God—it was about healing broken humanity, defeating death, and restoring relationship.
In this blog post, we explore Hebrews 2:14–17 through a restorative gospel lens and contrast it with the traditional Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA) interpretation. We’ll examine the Greek terms, Old Testament context, and broader themes of Hebrews to discover what Jesus’ death really accomplished—and why it matters.
1. Full Solidarity: “He Himself Likewise Partook of the Same Things” (Hebrews 2:14)
The passage begins by highlighting Jesus’ full identification with humanity:
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things.”
Restorative View: This is about incarnation, not transaction. Jesus doesn’t stay distant from our condition; He enters into our brokenness to heal it from within. This echoes the core theme of Hebrews—Jesus as the merciful High Priest who sympathizes with our weakness (Heb. 4:15).
Retributive View: PSA sees this as necessary so Jesus could be a substitute—He had to be human to represent humans and bear our penalty. The focus is on legal qualification.
👉 When we ask why did Jesus have to die, Hebrews 2 begins with a radical answer: because He chose to enter our suffering and share in our humanity—not to be a legal substitute, but to be a healing presence.
2. Destroying Death, Not Satisfying Wrath (Hebrews 2:14b–15)
“…that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
Restorative View: Jesus’ death is a victory over death itself and over the spiritual oppression that enslaves humanity. This liberation is not from God’s wrath, but from the fear and bondage that result from sin and death. The devil’s power is broken because Jesus reveals that death is not the end.
Retributive View: This is often interpreted to mean that Jesus breaks death’s power by absorbing the penalty we deserved, satisfying divine justice. The destruction of the devil is secondary to the legal payment.
👉 Why did Jesus have to die? To destroy the power of death—not to absorb punishment, but to liberate us from fear.
3. Helping the Offspring of Abraham (Hebrews 2:16)
“For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.”
Restorative View: Jesus came to help humanity—real people in real need. The word “helps” here (Greek: epilambanetai) implies taking hold of or rescuing. It’s not a legal rescue from a courtroom but a relational rescue from drowning.
Retributive View: Typically glossed over in PSA readings, this verse supports a more intimate and relational view of salvation.
👉 Why did Jesus have to die? Because He came to help—not legally defend—His brothers and sisters. His mission was rescue, not retribution.
4. A Merciful High Priest: Rethinking “Propitiation” (Hebrews 2:17)
“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest… to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
This is the most theologically charged verse of the passage.
Retributive View: “Propitiation” is interpreted as appeasing God’s wrath. Jesus absorbs the punishment we deserve so God can forgive us.
Restorative View: The Greek word used here (hilaskomai) more often means to reconcile or to cleanse. In the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), this word is associated with removing sin or uncleanness, not appeasing wrath. The role of the High Priest is to remove barriers to communion with God—not to absorb divine anger.
👉 Why did Jesus have to die? To become a High Priest who removes what separates us from God, not one who absorbs God’s rage. He reconciles, not retaliates.
5. Hebrews’ Larger Theme: Healing, Not Retribution
The book of Hebrews emphasizes Jesus as the better priest, the better covenant, and the one who opens the way to God’s presence. There is almost no legal courtroom imagery. Instead, we find sanctuary, cleansing, boldness, and relational restoration.
Hebrews 10:22 invites us to “draw near with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience.”
👉 Why did Jesus have to die? So we could draw near without fear—not to satisfy wrath, but to heal our hearts and restore relationship.
Conclusion: What Hebrews 2:14–17 Really Reveals
Hebrews 2:14–17 is not about Jesus satisfying an angry God. It’s about Jesus entering our brokenness to heal, restore, and liberate us. He defeats death, disarms the devil, and removes the fear that enslaves us. He becomes a merciful High Priest who brings us back into relationship with the Father.
This is the heart of the restorative gospel: God is not against us, but with us and for us. Jesus’ death was not a punishment demanded by God, but a rescue mission to destroy what destroys us.
👉 So why did Jesus have to die? Because love entered into death to break its power—so that we could live without fear and draw near to God with confidence.