Restitution and Forgiveness

Restitution is a Biblical teaching and practice that includes equal or enhanced compensation to the victim for stolen or damaged property or mental and/or physical harm. In today's cut-throat world, restitution is almost unheard of anymore. Because people are not held accountable for their actions, very few are willing to make restitution, let alone return more than they took (i.e., punitive damages). 

People can and will come up with every justification imaginable when caught/confronted with a crime regardless of the severity. Everyone has problems, but those problems do not give people a right to hurt others. Ultimately we are all responsible to


God for our actions (Ps. 51:4), and victims of a crime, created in God’s image, must be compensated in the manner prescribed by the “Judge of all the earth” (Gen. 18:25).

Does God expect us to forgive someone who has no intent on making restitution? Yes. However, this in no way relieves the person of responsibility and accountability for his or her actions. Forgiveness and restitution are two separate events. According to God, we must not hate them, but we have every right to demand restitution. Life is too short to live with a burden of hatred. We can forgive a person while still demanding justice. We must learn to forgive others, even if they are cold-hearted and unrepentant. However, a sincere apology does not remove the obligation by God to make restitution.

Reconciliation begins with repentance, a realization of the error and a desire to make things right. This change of mind will lead to reconciliation. If we do hurt others, then we are obligated by God to make reconciliation with our victims.