Deuteronomy 22:1-4 gives commands as to restoring property found to the rightful owner. Verses 13-19 give commands as to punishment for slanderous speech said against a person.
Leviticus 6:2-5 and Exodus 21:33- 22:9 give a wider scope of instructions. Leviticus 6:2-5 KJV says “If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost which he found, or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore... and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth...”
The idea behind Restitution is that our actions and words have the power to harm others in one way or the other.
Making amends for wrongs done against others, restoring stolen or lost property to the rightful owner, paying debts owed, apologizing for lies told against others, restoring relationships. All these, among others are what Restitution is all about.
While direct and detailed commands were given about Restitution in the Old Testament, it wasn’t directly mentioned in the New Testament. However, there are one or two instances that portray Restitution. When Jesus encountered Zacchaeus in Luke 19, one of the first things Zacchaeus thought to do was to make restitution, without needing to be told to do so. “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” (Luke 19:8 KJV Emphasis added). And so while it is true that Restitution is not a condition for salvation, it is definitely an evidence of salvation in the life of a person. Why? This is because salvation transforms a person completely and those things that were once overlooked by the person, those things that were once considered insignificant, begin to matter to the person. The person becomes more conscious of his/her deeds, words, behaviour and lifestyle, knowing that he/she is accountable to God.
Restitution is not a bid to please people, far from it. Some may feel that after all, they have confessed their sins to God and that is all that matters. Neglecting that people’s lives have been negatively affected by the careless lies told, and the money you took which wasn’t yours, and forgetting the person who was wrongly accused because you didn’t own up to what you did. It isn’t enough that you told God in secret, these are all things within your power that you can correct. The Bible describes God as just (Psalm 89:14a; Isaiah 61:8a, Job 34:12; Deuteronomy 32:4a). He wouldn’t want to see an innocent person keep suffering because of your actions or words, when you can make it right.
Others come from a different angle, the angle of grace. We are in the era of grace and restitution was never commanded in the New Testament and all the laws applicable in the time of Moses are now obsolete. To these, Jesus Christ said in Matthew 5:17a KJV “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets...” The fact that we are under grace doesn’t mean we can now kill, steal, lie and commit different atrocities, and simply ask God for forgiveness after each sinful act. That isn’t the intent of grace. Grace didn’t come to excuse us from punishment for sin, grace is present so that we will no longer commit these sins. Grace is present so that we are no longer alone in struggling with the flesh, grace is here so that we may overcome the flesh. Grace is a reason not to sin.
Grace doesn’t take away the need for Restitution. Grace establishes the need more so.
Apostle Paul in Acts 24:16 KJV said “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men.” God isn’t only concerned about how we relate with Him, He is also concerned about how we relate with our fellow men. When we wrong our fellow men, God is displeased. A part of the Lord's Prayer says “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Our right standing with God ought therefore to be reflected in our relationship with people here on earth.
Christianity isn’t restricted to the closet alone. Salvation should spread over to every area of our lives. Each segment of our lives glimpsed by anyone should testify to people that we are saved.
Restitution is not dependent on whether the person wronged knows he/she was wronged or knows that you were the one who wronged him/her. It is all up to the offender alone. You know you have wronged someone and you know you have done nothing to make it right, so make it right. It is also not dependent on whether the person actually felt the pain. For example, the person whose property you stole or refused to return may be extremely wealthy and may not have felt the pinch of the loss. However, that isn’t for you to determine. The fact remains that you took what wasn’t yours and it has to be returned. If at the point of returning it, the person refuses to collect it or to be repaid and just writes it off, restitution has still been fulfilled.
James describes faith without works as dead. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also (James 2:26 KJV). You therefore cannot say you believe in Jesus, you have faith in Him, and then blatantly refuse to correct your wrong acts.
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