EXODUS: The Lord God Gives the Laws Regarding Repayment and Restitution; "For any kind of trespass, which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor."

“You shall not steal. ... You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:15, 17) 

The Lord God continued to give the children of Israel specific laws that clarified the meaning behind the ten commandments. Now, He would explain how to treat other people's property and how to make restitution if something were to happen to someone else's property for various reasons.

“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double. (Exodus 22:1-4) 

Many of the laws of the land today are based on the laws of God given to the children of Israel. Stealing, and breaking and entering are pretty much handled the same way today. If someone steals, the courts determine the statutory minimum value of the property, and the thief has to pay that amount plus additional court costs or go to jail. If someone breaks and enters into a house, and the owner of the house is there and defends his house and property and ends up killing the thief, the owner is usually found not guilty because of self defense. 

“If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal, and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard. (Exodus 22:5) 

“If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. (Exodus 22:6) 

We hear often in the news how someone's animal broke loose and destroyed someone else's property or how someone started a fire and it got out of control and turned into a forest fire. The owner of the animal or the person who started the fire are to be held responsible and  to make restitution for the damage caused. 

“If a man delivers to his neighbor money or articles to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges to see whether he has put his hand into his neighbor’s goods. For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor. (Exodus 22:7-9)

If we have someone else's property in our possession, regardless of the reason why, and it is stolen, if the thief and the property can't be found, then we have to make restitution to the owner of the property.  That is what's fair and just, and if necessary, we may have to go to a judge to mediate and make a final determination.

"If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it, then an oath of the Lord shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good. But if, in fact, it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it. If it is torn to pieces by a beast, then he shall bring it as evidence, and he shall not make good what was torn. (Exodus 22:10-13) 

“And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it becomes injured or dies, the owner of it not being with it, he shall surely make it good. If its owner was with it, he shall not make it good; if it was hired, it came for its hire. (Exodus 22:14-15)

If we borrow some else's property and it breaks or quits working on it's own, from no fault of how we used it, then an oath of the Lord shall be between us both, and the owner is not to try and make us pay them back. However, if we took someone else's property to use without their knowing, then the punishment for stealing is to be used.

Christ Jesus taught the disciples to pray, and He included, "And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors." (Matthew 6:12) Even though the law requires people to make restitution for various reasons, if they are not in a position to do so, their asking and us giving them forgiveness is payment enough many times. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. (Romans 7:6)

As Christians, we should not do as the world does to resolve every issue of wrong doing. The Apostle Paul explained it clearly, Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! (I Corinthians 6:1-6) 

Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! (I Corinthians 6:7-8) Just because we have the right to make someone pay us back doesn't necessarily mean we have to enforce it, especially when the issue is between us and another Christian. Remember, ultimately they will have to answer to God. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[a] says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)