15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. 16 If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, 17 then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days.18 The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. (Deuteronomy 19)
Two witnesses. It may sound like an easy standard. But then choose 4 people, 1 from each corner of an intersection where an accident takes place, and see what different perspectives often come out. Think about the trial of Jesus, where no two "witnesses" can agree about the false charges against Him. One witness cannot be trusted to give an accurate account - we all have our biases and selfish motivations. Much of our system of jurisprudence is owed to this chapter as it comes to "innocent until proven guilty", the need for more than one accuser or witness, and making sure a thorough investigation takes place. The big thing for us individually is to make sure we are truthful in our words, making no allowance for exaggeration or implication of what helps us get our own way. May the truth prevail.
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