Restitution and Reconciliation

All my life in church all I heard was forgiveness of sins.  Just confess and go on with your life.  No biggie.  That is all it takes.  Well, that is not what our Father says.  I was listening to the Bible on my ipod while doing the dishes one day.  And as usual something said catches my ear.  I was listening to Numbers 5.  The narrator is reading from vs. 5 and goes on to say.

"Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty;

Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.

But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, even to the priest;"

Repentance of sins (teshuva) includes restitution and reconciliation. So if someone has stolen something that person not only confesses but has to give back the principal but has to add to it 1/5 value. I found this explanation from Aish.com. Teshuva is a four part process:   1) We must recognize what we have done wrong and regret it.  2) We must stop doing the transgression and correct whatever damage that we can, including asking forgiveness from those whom we have hurt -- and making restitution, if due.  3) We must accept upon ourselves not to do it again.  4) We must verbally ask the Almighty to forgive us. Wow. Never heard that before.  It just makes me think what else don't we understand.  We have to search the scriptures and remember to understand the New Testament we have to use the dictionary, the Old Testament. 

Blessings!