You asked

what does the bible say about prison and people in prison?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Matthew 25:35-36

“for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.”

This passage is part of Jesus' teaching on the Last Judgment, found in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus is speaking to his disciples, using parables and metaphors to describe what it means to live a life aligned with God's kingdom and what distinguishes those who truly serve God from those who do not.

How does this passage challenge our usual understanding of who is worthy of care and attention?

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Read alongside it

Hebrews 13:3
This verse directly exhorts believers to remember and empathize with those in prison, as if they too were suffering with them.
Isaiah 61:1
This prophecy, later quoted by Jesus, speaks of proclaiming liberty to captives and opening the prison to those who are bound.
Luke 4:18-19
Jesus reads from Isaiah, identifying his mission with bringing release to the captives.

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