The Law of Witnesses
There is a God given principle which we all need to live by. It is that by two or three witnesses shall a truth be established. God always requires at least two witnesses. This is a principle presented in both the Old and the New Testament. If our people choose to live by this principle things will go well for us. If we reject it, we will suffer.
“One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.” Deuteronomy 19:15. This was the basis of the law of witnesses in ancient Israel. In the New Testament Jesus did not teach on the legal or political judgements in Judea, but he did teach on judgement in the Church. “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” Matthew 18:15-17. The witnesses must be sure they have seen the trespass. Otherwise they are guilty of breaking the ninth commandment. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” Exodus 20:16.
The danger of the false witness is shown in the story of Joseph. (Genesis, Chapter 39). Joseph was rising in influence in Egypt and would have eventually become so powerful that he would have been the means of deliverance for the people of Israel. Instead, a woman falsely accused him of attempted rape and he was sent to prison for several years. However, God was able to eventually deliver him out of prison and establish his power in Egypt, and he did save the people of Israel. Another account of false witness is in the story of Ahab and Naboth (1 Kings, Chapter 21). Ahab’s wife hired false witnesses to testify against Naboth that he had blasphemed against God. He was put to death and his property confiscated. Therefore, the sin of false witness hurt Naboth’s family as well as him.
The false witness earns the hatred of God. “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19. False witnesses are liars, and shall receive the reward of liars. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8.
Jesus Christ used the law of witnesses to establish himself as the Messiah and the Son of God. The first witness was John the Baptist. “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.” John 1:6-7. The second witness was the works that Jesus did. “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.” John 5:36. There was also a third witness to his Divinity. “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17.
The law of the double witness is so important that God himself obeyed it, in confirming Jesus as the Son of God. For those of us in the Israel Truth movement, when we are witnessing to anybody about our beliefs it would be best if there were two of us, who are both born again Christians, to speak to that person.
