Compare Exodus 22:5 with Leviticus 6:4-5 on restitution and repentance. Setting the Scene • Both passages sit within Israel’s civil laws, showing how God expects wrongs between people to be put right. • Restitution is never optional; it is integral to genuine repentance. Exodus 22:5 — Restitution in Cases of Negligence “ ‘If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray, and they graze in another man’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard.’ ” • Offense: Careless damage caused by one’s animals. • Requirement: Replace what was lost with “the best” of one’s own produce—quality matters. • Emphasis: Responsibility hinges on oversight; the wrongdoer cannot plead ignorance. • Heart lesson: Love your neighbor enough to guard his property as diligently as your own (cf. Matthew 22:39). Leviticus 6:4–5 — Restitution in Cases of Deception “ ‘When he has sinned and is guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to him, or the lost property he found, or anything else about which he has sworn falsely. He must make full restitution for it, add a fifth of its value, and give it all to its owner on the day he presents his guilt offering.’ ” • Offense: Intentional wrongdoing—theft, fraud, false oath. • Requirement: – Return the exact thing or its equivalent value. – Add 20 % (“a fifth”) as a penalty. – Present a guilt offering to the LORD (v. 6). • Emphasis: Sin against man is also sin against God (cf. Psalm 51:4). Genuine repentance must address both. Shared Themes: Restitution and Repentance • Restitution is tangible repentance—putting love into action (Luke 19:8). • Restoration aims at wholeness: the victim is made whole, relationships are healed, God is honored. • The offender absorbs the loss, picturing Christ who “bore our sins in His body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). Key Differences Between the Two Passages • Type of Wrong – Exodus: Unintentional negligence. – Leviticus: Deliberate deceit. • Amount Restored – Exodus: “Best” produce, equal measure. – Leviticus: Full value plus 20 %. • Spiritual Dimension – Exodus: Civil liability only. – Leviticus: Civil liability plus sacrificial offering, highlighting deeper moral guilt. Practical Takeaways for Today • Take ownership of harm you cause—intentional or not—and make it right promptly (Romans 13:8). • Excellence in restitution (“the best”) reveals a repentant heart; don’t look for the cheapest fix. • When sin is deliberate, add more than the bare minimum; generosity underscores sincerity (Ephesians 4:28). • Restoration with people and confession before God go hand in hand (1 John 1:9). • By practicing biblical restitution, believers showcase the gospel: a Savior who paid in full—and more—for our debt. |
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