Biblical Restitution to Heal Relational Conflicts

This program is Real Israel Talk Radio, Episode 93 on Biblical Restitution to Reconcile Relational Conflicts.

Welcome to today’s show which is a special program to deal with biblical restitution. Today’s program presentation is by my wife, Suzanne. Next week, I will finish my teaching series on defining biblical love from 1 Corinthians 13.

In addressing broken and strained relational conflicts, we often hear a lot about the idea of forgiving each other for all kinds of wrongs committed in different situations. The one thing that I rarely hear about is the final step that is supposed to happen after forgiveness. The last step is that of the payment of restitution. In the biblical narratives, many examples are relevant to our study. In the New Covenant, consider the dialogue between Yeshua and Zacchaeus in Luke 19:8-10:

Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Master, “Look, Sir, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Yeshua said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

And there is this from Bamidbar (Numbers) 5:5-7:

Then Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel: ‘When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit in unfaithfulness against the Lord, and that person is guilty, then he shall confess the sin which he has committed. He shall make restitution for his trespass in full, plus one-fifth of it, and give it to the one he has wronged.”

Biblically, it is one’s final act towards healing a broken and strained relational conflict.

Person 1: Admit a wrong with confession (Step 1)
Person 1: A change of heart and actions with repentance (Step 2)
Person 2: A response to the confession and repentance with forgiveness (Step 3)
Person 1: A payment for damages with fair restitution (Step 4)
Person 1 & 2: The goal is achieved towards reconciliation between both parties (Step 5)

The first three steps are generally understood and applied by people who are seeking to heal relational conflicts. Step four remains elusive and seems to get lost in the healing process. It is this subject that Suzanne is going to address because it is something that has practical applications for all of us in everyday life.

Join us today for Real Israel Talk Radio Episode 93 and our study in Exodus chapter 22 and other biblical lessons about restitution as payment for healing relational conflicts, not as a purchase price to gain forgiveness.