What does the Bible say about being in jail or prison?

Verses 2 and 3 indicate two directions in which brotherly love is to express itself. First, in hospitality; that is, in the love of strangers. The world is usually prepared to receive those they esteem as important or influential, and thus to do honour to the distinguished guest. We are bidden to rise above merely worldly motives and to receive brethren unknown to us simply because they are brethren. This is true brotherly love in manifestation: a manifestation all too often but very little seen in our land. Second, it is to come out in the remembrance of brethren in adversity, particularly of those suffering imprisonment.

There had been allusion already to the affliction and persecution to which some of them had been subjected, or in which they had had companionship with others who were passing through it. He exhorts them now to remember those who are in bonds not in mere pity, but in spirit partaking with those in affliction, although they themselves might be free. What a lovely identification of faith with the suffering people of God! "If one member suffer, all the members suffer with it" "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."

Then a brother may be a stranger. "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers." And to encourage them to that duty they are reminded that some in their own history entertained angels unawares. Then another duty — "Remember them that are in bonds," and the encouragement follows — "as bound with them." Take your place in the body of Christ as His prisoners, not prisoners corporeally but mystically. When he speaks of suffering for Christ's sake he appeals to you in your mystic place; but when he speaks of suffering adversity (ver. 3) in a common, ordinary way, he appeals to natural life "as being yourselves also in the body."

Verse 3. Debtors as they were in love to all God's children, there were among their brethren some who had urgent and peculiar claims upon their sympathy. There were prisoners, who wore their bonds for Christ and for the Gospel. There were also others, who were suffering largely from trials natural to man. The former were their fellow-prisoners. For they were partakers of the afflictions of the Gospel, which was the common glory of the saints. They had themselves both borne reproaches and afflictions, and had comforted by their companionship their suffering brethren (Heb. 10:35). If now they were enjoying outward peace, they would not cease to think of those who still pined on in chains as evil doers, the blameless prisoners of Jesus Christ. With respect to the others who were suffering adversity, they should regard their condition, not only with sympathizing interest, because the joys and griefs of every member of Christ's body are a common interest to all, but also with a grateful sense of special mercy in their present exemption from the like distress. For while in the body they were liable to drink of the same cup. They should then remember such. The prayer of faith might mitigate their sorrow. God had opened prison doors for some, and shamed the languor of His people's faith by granting suddenly what they desired (Acts 12). The prayer of faith had often healed the sick. And even if no outward change were wrought in the estate of their afflicted brethren, yet it would rejoice their hearts, and bring much increase of thanksgiving to the Lord, to know that they were thought of in the bowels of His love.

The verses that immediately follow give the direction that was more particularly needed. "Forget not hospitality; for by it some unawares entertained angels. Remember the prisoners, as bound with [them], the ill-treated, as being yourselves also in a body" (verses 2, 3). To entertain strangers is a happy form of exercising brotherly kindness. Yet is it especially liable to be imposed on, were it not that the Lord's over-ruling eye is over all, and He permits nothing that does not work for good to those that love God. The danger for the believer is that he should be vexed at advantage taken, and lest he should slacken in consequence. But if men abuse kindness thus, the Lord accepts the good and forgets it not. The encouragement assigned is that some, as Abraham and Lot of old, entertained angels unawares. To receive God's children now is assuredly no less honour in His eyes. Another mode of brotherly kindness is in active remembrance of those who, as early Christians, had to bear the stigma of public bonds or prison. If we failed to realise the uncomeliness of holding aloof from brethren thus put to shame, the affecting reference of the apostle to Onesiphorus in his own case at Rome, which we find in 2 Tim. 1 and with less detail elsewhere, may give a just sense of its sweet seasonableness and value before the Lord. Then again how many are the "ill-treated" though not in a prison! Let us not forget such, as being ourselves also in a body.* Compare Heb. 10:32-34.

*The notion that this refers, not to the earthen vessel but to Christ's body, the church, is the more untenable, as this relationship is never once touched in the Epistle.

Care for Suffering Ones. — In another line of service could brotherly love display itself, and in one for which there was ample scope in those days, when persecution was rife and suffering for the truth was by no means the exception. Imprisonment was the lot of some. How well Paul knew what that was! "In prisons more frequent" tells us in a few words (2 Cor. 11:23) of his many experiences in that trial, of which but little is recorded in the Acts. Well too did he know what suffering adversity (or, evil) was, as that same chapter of the Corinthians sets forth. And surely he by experience knew the comfort of sympathy, and the support of being borne on the hearts of saints in prayer. So if he wrote these words, they would come well indeed from him: "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body," i.e. in life down here (Heb. 13:3). Fellow-feeling for the suffering ones others should evince. "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Gen. 4:9) was Cain's bold answer to God. On the other hand, kindness done to saints the Lord Jesus will remember, and regard as done to Himself. "I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in; naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came to Me. … Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it to Me" (Matt. 25:35-40). How useful then the reminder of such service must have been!

In having a heart for prisoners. Maybe we do not know any personally, but we have all heard in our day of those who have been incarcerated in communist prisons. Shut away from fellowship, deprived of every visible reminder of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, how ruthlessly and cruelly have they been oppressed in an endeavour to break their spirits and to wrest them from the faith. Who knows but what many are now suffering similarly. May we enter, feelingly, into their circumstances and lift up our hearts to God in fervent prayer on their behalf. May we have sympathetic concern for those who suffer any adversity. May we feel deeply for such with feelings borne of practical experience as being ourselves in the body — that is to say, as being in the responsible condition in which we have the opportunity of learning for ourselves the compassions of God and so much so that we can extend to our suffering brethren the comfort which we ourselves have received. Surely we are not above or impervious to the trials of our brethren! If we are we have never been in the sanctuary.

"Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." Thus, our present dispensation, though Heavenly and spiritual, does not relieve us from having to face the groans of creation: just as godly Israelites suffered for their faith in the Old Testament, so Christians also endured persecution and imprisonment for Christ's sake; and compassionate sympathy for such is but normal and proper Christianity.

(V. 3). This brotherly love can further find an outlet by having practical fellowship with the Lord's people who may find themselves in bonds for Christ's sake, or who are suffering adversity. We are to remember such as ourselves having bodies that can suffer from bonds or adverse circumstances.

There was one ray of light amid the gloom of the moment, one rill of consolation flowing into the heart of the Apostle from the heart of God, through His servant Onesiphorus. This godly man, so far from being ashamed of Paul or his chain, being in Rome, sought him out very diligently, and rested not until he had found him, and was used of the Lord to minister refreshment to the captive Apostle. Precious privilege vouchsafed to Onesiphorus! Precious also to the weary soul of Paul were these cups of cold water which Onesiphorus put to his thirsty lips! And the Lord saw this blessed service, and esteemed it as rendered unto Himself. "I was in prison, and ye came unto Me" (Matt. 25:36).