Contemplative Bible Reading

Hebrews 13:3 (New Living Translation)

Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

The writer is concluding a letter sent to Jews. This request seems odd, but consider the nature of the prison:

Gentiles invented prisons. Jews did not have any form of jail or prison in the old law.

Those Jews in prison were suffering a shameful treatment. The Gentiles had taken over the world and were administering their punishment on any Jew who was in prison. Outsiders dominated them.

Consider that last statement. Ever had someone waltz in from out of town, take over, and impose some external law? No, me neither. I can’t imagine that, but that was what the Jews were suffering.

There is much unjust oppression in the world today, in the US today, in my town today. Let me remember the oppressed as if I were oppressed myself.