The Standard of Christian Compassion

The writer of Hebrews encourages believers to "remember the prisoners as if chained with them" (Hebrews 13:3a). "Strangers" (v. 2) come without invitation but "prisoners" (v. 3a) must be sought out. In the first century, prisoners were not well treated, and they depended—often even for necessities like food—on sympathizers. Not everyone would give such sympathy. Many would refuse to help them for fear of identifying with the prisoners and suffering similar punishment. But Christians are to have compassion on those in prison "as if you were their fellow prisoners" (v. 3a, NIV).

Not only prisoners, but we are also to "remember... those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also" (v. 3b), or "as if you yourselves were suffering" (NIV). As Paul stated, "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it" (1 Cor. 12:26). So we show sympathy to the hurting by sharing in their suffering, or by coming alongside to pray for them and to lift them up by helping in whatever way we can.

We should have such feeling for our friends in prison and for "those who are mistreated" that we become one with them. Compassion is an essential part of Christian living. Sympathy, or compassion for the hurting, is an extension of Christian love.

In the early church, if a fellow believer was in jail, they would pay his fine or redemption price. Some early Christians even sold themselves into slavery to get money to free a fellow believer. That is true sacrificial compassion!

As Christians, we must show sympathy to fellow believers. In some cases, just being there for them is all that is needed. In other cases, we need to help them directly, either financially or otherwise. In all cases, we must pray for them without ceasing. Whatever you do, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2). Amen.