Any person today who professes to be a Christian but has not really been converted, experiences the same frustrations of a Jew under the Law (Rom. 7:14-24). He is still a slave to the flesh. He is a wretched man wanting to do right but not doing it. The requirement of the law is not fulfilled in him. Because of this, he is a problem to himself and to the church as well.

Even though we no longer live under the Mosaic Law with all its regulations and sacrifices, we learn much of what we know about God, His will regarding morality, the family, child-rearing, justice, and even about restitution from the Old Testament Scriptures. The apostle Paul clearly tells us that these things were written for our instruction (I Cor. 10:6-11; Rom. 15:4).

Now lets look at some of the Old Testament teachings on the subject of restitution.

Our text in Numbers 5 gives the general rule that restitution was to be made with 20% added to it. If restitution could not be made to the victim or a relative, the same amount was to be given to the Lord! This same law is given originally in Leviticus 6:1-7. It included matters of fraud, extortion, deceit concerning a deposit or security entrusted to a man. It even covered deceit concerning lost items which were found! Whoever kept what he found when he knew whose it was or did not make an effort to find the rightful owner was considered a thief. In addition to restoring it with an additional 20%, he was to make an offering to the Lord as well.

The most complete passage giving details concerning restitution is found in Exodus 22:1-16. In the case of theft it required more than simple restitution (vs. 1-4). Restoring what was stolen only brought things back to the condition which existed before the theft took place. No punishment for the crime nor compensation for the victim. So if an animal was returned alive, it was to be 2 for 1 (vs. 4). If an animal had been slaughtered or sold, the thief was to return five oxen for each one stolen, or four sheep for each one stolen (vs. 1). If a man could not make restitution, he was sold as a slave to work it out through hard labor (vs. 3). In cases of carelessness or neglect, simple restitution was necessary (vs. 5,6). Circumstances determined how some situations were handled (vs. 7-13), but the law emphasized a sense of responsibility for a neighbor's property when it was entrusted to you or borrowed by you (vs. 14,15).

The 21st chapter of Exodus also talks about restitution. I want you to notice that if two people are quarreling, and one strikes the other so that he is injured, he must pay for his "loss of time" at work, and in addition he must take care of him until he is well: i.e., he must pay all his medical bills (vs. 18,19).

There are other Old Testament passages that give regulations concerning restitution, but these surely give enough so you can see how important it was under the Law of Moses. These passages help us know what God wants. We can see the "requirement of the Law" and have a clear model to pattern our own behavior after in the matter of restitution.

The New Testament has no specific commands regarding restitution, but Christians certainly are not any less responsible to make restitution where needed. Jesus always raised the standard of the Old Testament to include the spirit and attitude as well as the deed, and that always includes more than a law would.

Christians are commanded to regard others as more important than themselves (Phil. 2:3; Eph. 5:21; Rom 12:10). Would not this attitude automatically cause you to make restitution whenever you accidently damaged or lost something that belonged to another Christian? When Zacheus became a follower of Christ, he voluntarily went far beyond simple restitution, and because of this spontaneous gesture Jesus said, "Today salvation has come to this house." (Luke 19:1-9) Many of the early Judean Christians sold all they had and gave the money to the apostles for distribution to those who were from other nations. Years later they felt a responsibility to send back help to the Judean Christians in their time of need. This was a form of restitution which they felt. The example of the Corinthians in their repentance shows what God desires in making things right. True godly sorrow produces a repentance that includes doing everything within one's power to clear the record (II Cor. 7:10,11). The apostle Paul also commanded, "Render to all what is due them . . . owe nothing to anyone. . . Love does no wrong to a neighbor." (Romans 13:7-10)

Finally, there are some suggested areas where restitution is appropriate: Sometimes people try simply to cover up wrongs done to others with an extraordinary amount of friendliness and civility. They will come back to church if they have quit. They will speak kindly to those they offended and put on an air of confidence and poise as though nothing was ever wrong, but they won't in so many words come and frankly confess their sin and make proper restitution for the act or the destructive speech of the past. Sometimes they try to excuse themselves by the thought that they were fully justified in what they had done or said. They rationalize rather than repent and make restitution.

When you use something that belongs to another (a house, a book, a tool, a car, a truck, etc.), return it in the same condition you received it or better.

If you ever unfortunately find yourself in such financial straits that you are forced into bankruptcy, even though you may be legally released from the debt, it is not justice. Innocent parties still suffer the loss of a lot of money that you owe them. There is still a moral obligation! Restitution is still morally necessary.

Perhaps one of the most common needs for restitution is in the area of unpaid tithes and contributions to the Lord. During periods of spiritual weakness or difficult times financially, did you rob God? You never win by cheating God (Mal. 3:8-12)! What about the Sundays you miss church services or are on vacation? A part of your income during those times still belongs to God. The Lord has asked for at least the tithe of all that we make, and we must be sure that we are not guilty of fraud with the money that the Lord has entrusted to us.

If you or your children accidently break something that belongs to another, you need to replace or repair it. Rumors you spread that did a lot of damage to someone require a least an honest attempt to make restitution. Make a public confession and repentance.

You take it from here. Perhaps you have been convicted of some area in your life that needs restitution. Are there strained relationships because of something you have done that have never really been cleared up and restitution made? God has very clearly declared His will regarding this important subject in the Old Testament. The regulations were very specific. The New Testament broadens the requirement with the principles, "Owe no man nothing" and "render to all what is due them." We live by the Holy Spirit, and He will not lead us to do less than the requirement of the Law. Jesus always expanded the Law to include the heart. We are to love one another. Love motivates us to do what no command can accomplish. Restitution knows no other obstacle or limit than impossibility! Under the Law of Moses if it was an impossibility, then the restitution was made to God Himself! Then the conscience of the offender could be completely clear!

Is there any area in your life where restitution is needed? If so, make everything clear today