The Act of Restoring

Restitution Where Possible

One day, as Jesus was passing through the city of Jericho, Zacchaeus, chief among the publicans, sought to see Him. But being little of stature Zacchaeus was unable to see Jesus because of the people, so he ran ahead of the throng and climbed up into a tree. When Jesus came his way, He stopped and, looking up into the tree, commanded Zacchaeus to come down, informing him that He must abide at his house that day. Zacchaeus, a tax collector for the Roman government, voluntarily promised to restore four-fold anything he had taken wrongfully. Jesus assured him that “this day is salvation come to this house” (Luke 19:9). In effect, Jesus was placing His approval on the principle of restitution.

Restitution is the act of restoring to the owner anything that has been wrongfully taken, or giving satisfaction to a person who has been injured. This is what Zacchaeus said he would do.

Today, people who make restitution gain the favor of God, and sometimes the confidence of both friends and enemies. It would be just as wrong to keep something that was stolen before one’s conversion as it would be to steal after one’s conversion. The only remedy is to restore it, then go and “steal no more” (Eph. 4:28). Of course, God does not require anything of us that would be impossible; but where it is possible, we need to make wrongs right.

John the Baptist refused to baptize certain ones who came to him. He told them to “bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matt. 3:8). No doubt, some of John’s hearers had something they need to repay or make right with their fellow man.

Believing is great and needful, but believing alone is not sufficient. People must “clean up their act” and live separated lives in order to please God. Believing and practicing the “all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:20) is required by all who would follow Christ.

Romans 13:8 states: “owe no man anything, but love one to another.” To willfully keep something that belongs to another, puts one in the position of always owing that person. This would be contrary to Scripture and displeasing to God. If a person owes no man anything but Christian love, then he can “please his neighbor for his good to edification” (Rom. 15:2).

Restitution may mean the difference between victory and defeat. Jesus said: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). Living the separated Christian life is more serious than many suppose. To live victorious lives, we need to consider the personal application of this Bible teaching. It is necessary in order to please God, and will result in a clear conscience between us and our fellow man and God.