2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Isaiah 12:1-14:32 ESV, 2 Corinthians 13:1-14 ESV, Psalm 57:1-11 ESV, Proverbs 23:9-11 ESV
Daily Verse: “This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (2 Corinthians 13:1 ESV)
HISTEMI (2476): “As a verb, means “to make to stand,” means “to appoint.”[1]
Make stand.
Paul faces misdemeanor charges from the Corinthians on his third trip to the church. Referring to the requirement Moses wrote about in Deuteronomy 19:15, accusations need two or three witnesses to support them. Jesus taught the same principle concerning church discipline:
“But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (Matthew 18:16 ESV)
When people accuse others of crimes, they better have backup. Making an accusation doesn’t make it accurate. Unfortunately, most people believe what they hear without looking for any supporting evidence.
Seek evidence.
Jesus teaches that before convicting someone of a crime, get witnesses to corroborate the story. The next time someone comes up to you, accusing another person of a misdemeanor, don’t take their word for it. Instead, ask them to prove it by having at least two or three witnesses agree with the charges.
When I received a traffic violation for going through a red-light years ago, I made a court appearance. Convinced of my innocence, I stood before the judge, and the two police officers accused me of the crime. As the cop misdescribed my car, my innocence became apparent. The judge dismissed my case because the officers disagreed about my vehicle.
If you accuse someone of a crime, make sure you have the evidence to prove it. Verify the facts with at least two or three witnesses before charging an innocent person. False accusations tarnish a person’s reputation; even when the truth becomes evident, people still choose to believe the lie.
Make sure to get the facts before making false accusations. Don’t damage someone’s reputation unnecessarily. Remember, we all fall short of the glory of God, all sinners. Don’t do to others what you don’t want done to you.
[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.37) Thomas Nelson
