Numbers 5:5-10

Watch

Read

Confession and Restitution

5 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “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, 7 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. 8 But if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for the wrong must go to the Lord for the priest, in addition to the ram of the atonement with which atonement is made for him. 9 Every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring to the priest, shall be his. 10 And every man’s holy things shall be his; whatever any man gives the priest shall be his.’ ”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Nu 5:5–10.

Main Points:

• Confession and Restitution: The passage instructs that when someone sins, they must first confess their sin to God, highlighting the importance of acknowledging one's wrongs as the first step toward making things right.

• Restitution with Interest: Beyond confession, the sinner is required to make restitution to the wronged party, adding one-fifth more to the value of what was taken or damaged. This act serves both a punitive and restorative function, ensuring justice and discouraging future offenses.

• Atonement for the Guilty: In addition to restitution, the sinner must bring a sacrificial offering to the Lord, demonstrating a deeper level of repentance and seeking spiritual cleansing.

• Provision for the Priest and the Lord: If the wronged party has no relatives, restitution is made to the Lord through the priest, ensuring that the sin does not remain unresolved.

• Restitution to God: The sermon closes by pondering how one can make restitution for sins against God, concluding that Jesus Christ is our ultimate restitution, paying the price for our sins and restoring us to a right relationship with God.

Application:

• Embrace Confession and Restitution: We're encouraged to confess our sins to God and seek to make amends where possible, reflecting God's justice and mercy in our lives.

• Understand Jesus' Sacrifice: Recognizing that we cannot make restitution for our sins against God on our own, we are reminded of the significance of Jesus' sacrifice, which restores us to God.

• Practice Mercy and Forgiveness: Inspired by God's mercy towards us, we are called to show grace, mercy, and forgiveness to others, embodying the love and restoration we've received in Christ.