Helping those who have committed crimes is a delicate issue, but the Bible encourages believers to show mercy and compassion while also upholding justice. From visiting prisoners to offering forgiveness, scripture calls for a balance between grace and accountability. Let’s explore what the Bible says about helping criminals and seeking redemption for all.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Satan’S Power
What Does The Bible Say About Helping Criminals
Matthew 25:36
I needed to be clothed, and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of helping those who are in prison. It highlights the act of visiting and providing support to individuals who have been incarcerated, demonstrating compassion and care for their well-being.
Hebrews 13:3
Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
This verse calls for empathy towards those who are imprisoned and mistreated. It encourages believers to stand in solidarity with them and to actively remember their plight, recognizing their suffering as if it were their own.
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.
This verse speaks of the purpose and mission of Jesus to bring good news, healing, and freedom to those who are captive and imprisoned. It reminds believers of the redemptive power of Christ and the call to extend the same compassion to those who are in prison.
Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.
Similar to Isaiah 61:1, this verse from Luke also emphasizes Jesus’ anointed mission to bring freedom to prisoners. It highlights the transformative power of the gospel to deliver individuals from captivity and bring liberation to their lives.
Psalm 146:7
He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free,
This verse affirms that God champions the cause of the oppressed and provides for the needs of the hungry. Additionally, it acknowledges that the Lord is capable of setting prisoners free, illustrating His ability to intervene and bring liberation to those who are bound.
Acts 16:25-26
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.
This powerful account in Acts demonstrates the faith of Paul and Silas as they worshiped God while imprisoned. Their worship not only impacted the other prisoners but also resulted in a miraculous intervention by God, setting them free from their physical chains. This verse serves as a reminder of the transformative power of prayer and worship in the lives of those who are incarcerated.
1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
This verse speaks to the redemptive work of Christ, who, through His own suffering, reconciled humanity with God. It reveals the heart of God who desires to restore and bring individuals into a relationship with Him, demonstrating His love and forgiveness even towards those who have committed crimes.
Romans 15:1
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
This verse calls believers to bear with the weaknesses and failings of others, exemplifying a spirit of compassion and understanding. It encourages a posture of support and assistance towards those who may be struggling, including individuals who have been involved in criminal activities.
Galatians 6:1-2
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.
This verse emphasizes the importance of restoration and gentleness when dealing with those who have fallen into sin. It encourages believers to come alongside them, offering support and carrying their burdens instead of condemning or rejecting them.
Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount highlights the virtue of mercy. This verse serves as a reminder that the merciful will themselves receive mercy. It encourages believers to extend compassion and forgiveness towards those who have made mistakes or committed crimes, understanding that they too are in need of grace and redemption.
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
This verse emphasizes the call to kindness and compassion towards others, rooted in the forgiveness we have received through Christ. It encourages believers to extend the same forgiveness and understanding towards those who have offended or wronged them, including individuals who have been involved in criminal behavior.
Proverbs 21:13
Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
This verse highlights the importance of not turning a blind eye to the needs and cries of the poor. It serves as a reminder that our response to those in need, including those who may be in prison, can have a significant impact on our own prayers being heard by God.
Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.
This verse cautions against the act of judgment and condemnation. It reminds believers to withhold judgment and instead demonstrate grace and compassion towards others, including individuals who have been involved in criminal activities or have been imprisoned.
Proverbs 14:21
Whoever despises their neighbor sins, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
This proverb illustrates the significance of kindness and mercy towards those in need. It highlights that those who neglect or despise their neighbors, including individuals who may be involved in criminal behavior, engage in sinful actions. Conversely, those who extend kindness to the needy are considered blessed.
Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
This exchange between Jesus and the two criminals being crucified with Him demonstrates the powerful potential for transformation and forgiveness, even in the context of criminals. Despite one criminal’s insults, the other recognizes his own guilt and acknowledges Jesus’ innocence. Ultimately, Jesus extends grace and assures the repentant criminal of his place in paradise. This verse reminds believers of the opportunity for redemption and the hope that can be offered to individuals who have committed crimes.
Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
This verse encourages believers to respond to evil with goodness. It emphasizes the importance of not allowing wrongdoing or criminal behavior to define our actions, but rather to overcome it through acts of love, mercy, and forgiveness.
1 Corinthians 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
This verse reminds believers that in Christ, transformation and forgiveness are possible. It highlights that individuals who were once involved in various sinful behaviors, including criminal activities, have been washed, sanctified, and justified through faith in Jesus Christ.
Psalm 34:17-18
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
This psalm reassures believers that God hears the cries of the righteous and delivers them from their troubles. It emphasizes the nearness of God to the brokenhearted and His willingness to save those who are in distress, including individuals who may be imprisoned or facing the consequences of their criminal actions.
John 8:7
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
In the account of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus challenges the crowd that has gathered to condemn her. He reminds them of their own sinful nature and calls for humility and a recognition of their own shortcomings before passing judgment. This verse reminds believers of the importance of mercy and restraint from condemning others, including individuals involved in criminal behavior.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
This verse highlights that believers are God’s handiwork, created with a purpose to do good works. It reminds us that our actions, including extending support and assistance to individuals who have been involved in criminal activities, are part of the good works God has prepared in advance for us to fulfill.
Matthew 9:13
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.
Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ criticism about Him dining with tax collectors and sinners reveals His priority for mercy over strict judgment. He reminds them that He came for sinners and desires mercy over rituals or sacrifices. This verse encourages believers to extend mercy to individuals who have committed crimes, recognizing that Jesus offers salvation to all who repent and turn to Him.
James 2:13
Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
This verse serves as a warning that judgment without mercy will be reciprocated. It highlights the supremacy of mercy over judgment and encourages believers to prioritize compassion and forgiveness towards others, including individuals who may have been involved in criminal activities.
Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.
This verse encourages believers to actively seek justice and defend the oppressed. It emphasizes the importance of advocating for those who may be marginalized or vulnerable, including individuals who have been involved in criminal behavior, recognizing their need for support and assistance.