The First Promise
The first promise — and the doctrine of restitution
Did you know there is a part of the Bible addressed directly to CHILDREN? Paul writes: 'Children, obey your parents in the Lord — for this is right.' And there is a PROMISE attached: honour your father and mother and it will go well with you.
This is the first commandment with a promise — obedience brings blessing! But Paul also speaks to PARENTS: do not exasperate your children — don't be harsh, unfair or crushing. In God's family, everyone has instructions, not just children!
Then Paul teaches something that goes even deeper: if we have done something wrong, we must make it RIGHT.
This is called RESTITUTION. Not just saying sorry, but actually RESTORING what was taken, REPAYING what was owed, APOLOGISING to the person you hurt, MAKING AMENDS for the damage you caused. Restitution is how we have a conscience that is completely clear — no offence toward God, no offence toward people. Zacchaeus in Luke 19 paid back four times what he had stolen. That is the spirit of restitution. A clean conscience before God AND people — this is the mark of a genuinely holy life.
✨ Memory verse
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour your father and mother.”Ephesians 6:1-2 (NIV)
Tap the words in the right order:
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Type the verse from memory:
🎵 Sing along: The Promise Song
❓ Quiz time!
🖍️ Printables
👨👩👧 Parent & teacher guide
Big idea: Obedience in relationships AND the doctrine of Restitution. Restitution is The scriptural doctrine of restitution: 'making amends for wrongs done against our fellow men, restoring stolen things to their rightful owners, paying debts, giving back where one has defrauded, making confessions to the offended and apologising to those slandered, so as to have a conscience void of offence toward God and man' (Gen 20:1-8; Ex 22:1-7; Lev 6:1-7; Num 5:6-8; Luke 19:8; Acts 23:1-5). This doctrine is critical and often neglected. Why
Scripture emphasises it: (1) Genuine repentance (doctrine 5) produces restitution — it is the fruit that proves the turning was real. (2) A conscience burdened with unresolved wrongs cannot grow in holiness; it must be cleared. (3) It demonstrates that salvation is not just vertical (God-human) but horizontal (human-human). For parents: model restitution in front of your children. When you wrong your spouse, apologise and make it right in front of them. When you wrong your child, apologise to them — do not let authority cover wrongdoing.
Conversation starters: (1) What is the difference between restitution and just saying sorry? (2) Can you think of something you have done wrong to another person that has never been fully made right? What would making it right look like? (3) How do you think making restitution affects your ability to pray freely?
Spend time tonight — identify one restitution that needs to be made in your family and commit to doing it by the end of the week.