What does Jesus say about prisons?
Asked by: Miss Verdie Goldner Sr. | Last update: February 2, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (73 votes)
Jesus speaks about prisoners primarily through commands to care for them, equating visiting them with visiting Him (Matthew 25:36) and proclaiming "release to the captives" as part of His mission (Luke 4:18), emphasizing that everyone, even the incarcerated, retains human dignity and a need for mercy, spiritual freedom, and hope.
Are prisons mentioned in the Bible?
Prisons and prisoners are mentioned in the book of ( Psalms 69:33 ; 79:11 ; 142:7 ). Samson was confined in a Philistine prison ( Judges 16:21 Judges 16:25 ).
What do Christians believe about prisons?
When the law sentences a criminal, it is exercising justice on God's behalf. Christians would extend forgiveness to a criminal who has wronged them, but they would also expect justice to be done to that person in the courts. They would want to see prison helping the criminal to reform.
What does Jesus say about treating criminals?
First, there is the positive directive concerning how to treat offenders. Jesus said, “I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28).
Why does God want us to visit prisoners?
Christ's call to visit those in prison is not just a call to act charitably. It points to the dignity of the imprisoned person. Christ is saying, that no matter what the person has done and no matter the shame of being in prison, the person is still His child and has the same human dignity as every other person.
What does the Bible have to say about prison
What is the rule 43 in jail?
In the UK prison system, Prison Rule 43 allows for the segregation of inmates for their own protection (e.g., vulnerable prisoners like sex offenders) or for prison discipline, moving them to separate units where conditions can be harsh, with reduced association, recreation, and access to property, though it's intended to be a safeguard against violence and often involves solitary conditions, raising concerns about isolation and stigmatization. There's also a US Federal Rule 43 concerning a defendant's presence in court, but the prison context points to the UK rule.
What does Matthew 22:37 really mean?
Matthew 22:37 means that the greatest commandment is to love God with your entire being—your emotions (heart), spiritual life (soul), and intellect (mind)—calling for a total, undivided devotion, stemming from Deuteronomy 6:5. This isn't just feeling good, but a choice and action to prioritize God in every aspect of life, reflecting the core of faith as summarized by Jesus.
What is the biggest sin God cannot forgive?
In Christianity, the "unforgivable sin" or "eternal sin" is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which involves persistently rejecting God's grace and attributing the work of the Holy Spirit (like Jesus' miracles) to evil, showing a hardened, final refusal to repent, as described in Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-29, and Luke 12:10. While some traditions point to pride as the original sin, blasphemy against the Spirit is specifically identified as the unpardonable act in the Bible.
Why does Jesus forgive murderers?
Jesus prayed that the Father would forgive his persecutors. He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). He asked God the Father to forgive his murderers, and thereby transferred the decision of whether to forgive from himself to the Father.
What does John 16-33 really mean?
John 16:33 means Jesus warns his followers they'll face trouble ("tribulation") in the world but encourages them to "take heart" (be courageous) because He has already overcome the world's challenges (sin, death, evil), offering His peace and victory to believers through His upcoming crucifixion, resurrection, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, assuring them they aren't alone in their struggles.
How does God feel about jail?
God's word emphasizes compassion and care for prisoners, urging believers to remember them as if they were imprisoned with them (Hebrews 13:3), while also supporting justice and the role of government in maintaining order, and offering hope and transformation for both the innocent and the guilty through repentance and faith in Christ. The Bible calls for visiting prisoners (Matthew 25) and sees God as a liberator of the captive, offering freedom from sin and a future hope.
What is the fastest growing religion in prisons?
80 percent of all prison religious conversions are to Islam.
Did Jesus believe in prisons?
While the New Testament context of “captivity” wasn't entirely the same as modern imprisonment, Jesus' promise aligns liberation of prisoners with healing and good news for the poor and oppressed.
What does Psalm 79: 11 say about prisoners?
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; According to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom Their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
Did Jesus preach to prisoners?
Jesus preached to those who were “spiritually imprisoned” through Noah. The difference between this view and the first has to do with time. In the first view, Jesus preached to the souls of those who died. In this view, Jesus preached to them prior to the flood.
What is God's worst sin?
Pride is known as hubris (from the Ancient Greek ὕβρις) or futility; it is considered the original and worst of the seven deadly sins—the most demonic—on almost every list.
Does God forgive felons?
The chains are off, even if you must live out a worldly sentence. But make no mistake, whatever any man says or does to you matters little to our Lord and Savior. God will forgive you, even when it seems no one around you will be so merciful. That is the Good News for prisoners.
Who is the hardest person to forgive?
The hardest person to forgive is most often yourself, particularly past versions of you that made mistakes, acted against your values, or survived difficult times, because we hold ourselves to impossibly high standards, hear our own self-judgment loudest, and struggle to offer ourselves the same compassion we give others, according to psychologists and spiritual writers. It's a challenging process involving accepting imperfection, learning from regret, and allowing yourself to move forward.
What sins will keep you from heaven?
Different faiths list sins that can hinder entering heaven, often including sexual immorality (adultery, fornication, lust), idolatry, murder, greed/covetousness, dishonesty (lying, slandering, theft), drunkenness, wrath, pride, envy, and sloth, emphasizing that unrepentant sin separates people from God, though many traditions offer paths to forgiveness through repentance and faith.
How do you know if you've committed the unforgivable sin?
The unforgivable sin isn't something you stumble into accidentally. It's the settled, defiant rejection of the Spirit's witness to Christ. If your sin grieves you and you desire His mercy, that itself is evidence that the Spirit is still at work in you. So turn to Him today and find rest in His forgiveness.
What three sins will God not forgive?
In truth the Bible lists three unforgivable sins, which contradicts what Jesus said about the subject they are as follows:
- Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit we all know this one that's where the Pharisees accuse Jesus of being demon possessed. ...
- Apostasy a willful defection from the faith. ...
- Receiving the mark of the beast.
What does the Bible say about a man who doesn't take care of his kids kjv?
The most direct KJV verse about a man failing to provide for his family (including children) is 1 Timothy 5:8: "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel," showing a grave spiritual failure for neglecting dependents. Other relevant verses emphasize parental responsibility, like Proverbs 13:22 about a good man leaving an inheritance and Proverbs 13:24 linking sparing the rod (discipline/care) to love, with neglect seen as a lack of love and care.
What is the greatest law in the Bible?
Gospel of Matthew
"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. ' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
What does it mean even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs?
The phrase "even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs" means that even those considered low in status can benefit from the overflow of blessings or resources meant for the privileged, demonstrating great humility and faith by accepting even the smallest portion of grace or help, as seen in the biblical story where a Gentile woman uses it to ask Jesus for healing for her daughter, emphasizing that any small blessing from God's bounty is sufficient for her.