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"Remember the prisoners as if chained with them..."

Text: Hebrews 13:3a

UNDER ROMAN RULE

The first century saw the world ruled by the Roman emperor. His empire was vast and he ruled it with an iron fist! Every rebellion was quelled with speed and strength. Rome practised slavery as a means of punishment and control of the empire.

THE PENAL SYSTEM

Rome’s judicial system believed in swift and ruthless administration of its laws. Imprisonment was one of the means of punishment of offenders. Sometimes, incarceration led to a slow death. But at all times, imprisonment brought great suffering.

Not all who were imprisoned were guilty of breaking the law. Some were jailed simply because they were believers in Christ! Rome was prepared to imprison anyone who was perceived as a threat to its security and peace.

IDENTIFYING WITH PRISONERS

The writer of Hebrews was aware of the sad and dangerous plight of prisoners. Thus he wrote to all his readers to identify with those in prison.

“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them-
those who are mistreated- since you yourselves
are in the body also.”
Hebrews 13:3

1. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them

a) Remembering prisoners who suffer is the most basic of responses.

b) Identification with prisoners “as if chained with them” was the greater challenge.

2. Those who are mistreated

a) Some were physically brutalized.

b) Chains were always cruelly put on prisoners.

c) Many were indeed “mistreated” in the Roman prisons.

3. Since you are in the same body also

a) This was a profound argument.

b) This challenging thought was based on the concept of being “in the same body of Christ”.

c) It called for a very deep sense of identification with each other in Christ.