Exodus 20- 22, through much of Deuteronomy, addresses the law God set before Israel. God made a covenant with Israel in Exodus 19 "if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples..." After setting this covenant, God began to delineate their terms. In the covenant, there was much spoken about restitution. If these people were to be God's treasure, restitution would become essential to repentance. Even in the passage in chapter 21, "But if there is harm, then you shall pay back life for life, eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe." Restitution needed to be just, not vengeful or excessive. Sometimes it would be the theft of an animal that dies in the thief's care; he would give money to restore the harm done. If the animal is alive, he will pay double. You can read these terms for yourself. I know it begins in the part of the Bible where most people get lost in the weeds and jump ahead.
Restitution, sadly, is the missing link to most people's repentance. In the school where I work, the teachers are taught not to make the children say "sorry" when they do something that hurts another child. While I agree with that, to an extent, sorry is taught. The hope is that in teaching this attribute, repentance becomes a significant part of sorry. The bigger part of learning is giving restitution. That seems to be missing in Christian communities too. Yes, I'm guilty of helping children understand what they did was wrong. I teach them they need to say "sorry." I even added, "you must give that toy to your friend to play with because you took it from them." That is teaching them repentance and restitution. It doesn't come from their hearts, but I leave God to begin teaching them that.
The easier part of repentance is between the person and God.
The more challenging part of repentance is when the person needs to go to another and ask for forgiveness after they have taken care of it between themselves and God.
The most challenging part of repentance is when it is necessary to give back what is just to make things right for that person.
There is nothing but humility as the repentance broadens. James 4:6 "...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
The story of Zacchaeus found in Luke 19:1-10 is a perfect New Testament example of restitution. If you were thinking we are not under the law today. With true repentance, there is a need for restitution. It is the visible sign, the missing link of genuine godly sorrow. I will let you read the story. One point I do want to make from the story is to identify the joy by which Zacchaeus desired to make restitution and even go above what was necessary. True repentance not only makes restitution but does it joyfully. Zacchaeus recognized he was receiving the greater gift. The gift of Jesus. The advantage of being right with God. The gift of being exposed as forgiven.
Could you imagine if every person who left a spouse without biblical grounds, whose husband or wife was waiting for God to bring them out of their adulterous state, would repent and leave the un-union they were in a go back to their rightful spouse? That would be restitution. Just because the government marries a person does not make them married. Read the book of Hosea.
Could you imagine if Government servants repented and recognized they were robbing the people they were supposed to be working for and gave back tax money they knew was in excess?
Could you imagine if you, as you hold a grudge or pretend someone did not hurt you, called them up and shared how they've hurt you? Perhaps your restitution is opening up yourself to allow them to earn your trust. You begin to build a relationship again. I'm not sure that scenario fits, but I am sure it is necessary for the Christian community, Matthew 5:23-24.
If restitution is the missing link, let's humble ourselves and joyfully begin to re-link ourselves toward one another through repentance and restitution. It restores relationships better than anything else can. God commands it, so we know he works through our obedience as we covenant with him as his holy people.
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