“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them–those who are mistreated–since you yourselves are in the body also” (Hebrews 13:3).
As mentioned earlier in our study of Hebrews chapter ten, the penitentiaries of the New Testament era were not like the prisons that exist in many modern-day societies. A prison of that time did not typically serve as a place of criminal incarceration. Instead, prisons were generally used to confine the accused before they were executed or put on trial.
These penal institutions were usually cold, damp, and dirty. There were no windows, beds, toilets, showers, or meals offered there. The only amenities given to a prisoner were those that were brought by others who came to visit- if there were any. This meant that prisoners who had no external means of support often faced the prospect of death unless someone provided for their needs.
The observations made by the following source regarding these conditions are worth repeating…
“Prisoners who had no means of their own were liable to starve unless their friends brought them food and whatever other form of help they required; throughout the whole age of imperial persecution of the Church the visiting of their friends who were in prison was a regular, though dangerous, duty of Christian charity.” (1)
Given the worsening political climate that existed for Christians of that era, it was dangerous to be recognized as a known associate of a prisoner. Therefore, these Hebrew Christians took a substantial risk in visiting those who had been incarcerated. Nevertheless, if we can imagine the prospect of sitting alone in a cold, damp prison cell for an extended period, we can appreciate this exhortation.
Finally, one author encourages us to consider this passage in a broader sense…
“The second example of brotherly love is to visit those in prison. Prison is an ugly place today; it was far uglier then. We naturally try not to think about prisoners. It takes discipline to visit saints who are in prison. When the faithful Ethiopian Ebed-Melech visited Jeremiah in prison, he had to go to a pit. Ebed-Melech interceded for Jeremiah, and the prophet was rescued before he expired (Jeremiah 37–38).
Faithful believers in prison need our prayers, but they also need the encouragement of visits. We have other ‘prisons’ today. Convalescent homes and hospitals are two examples. To some extent such institutions are necessary. But how easy it is for us to forget the people who are there. Often they feel imprisoned. The author of Hebrews enjoins us to visit them. It is our chance to play the role of ‘angels’ for other people.” (2)
(1) The New International Commentary On The New Testament – The Epistle To The Hebrews, F. F. Bruce, General Editor © Copyright 1964, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan [pg. 270]
(2) Sproul, R. C. (1994). Before the face of God: Book 4: A daily guide for living from Ephesians, Hebrews, and James (electronic ed.). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House Ligonier Ministries.