Matthew 18:16

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.

It is a biblical standard that for something to be established as the truth, then multiple witnesses are needed to ensure its validity. One witness should not be considered enough, especially so in areas where divine judgment is to be the result. 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.^[1]

(Pulpit, Deut. 19:15) To secure against injury to life or property through inadequate or false attestation, it is enacted that more than one witness must appear before anything can be established; and that, should a witness be found on trial to have testified falsely against his neighbor, he was to be punished by having done to him what he thought to have done to his neighbor (cf. Deuteronomy 17:6; Numbers 35:30).^[2] Verse 15. – The rule in Deuteronomy 17:6, regarding accusations of idolatry, is here extended to accusations of every kind before a court of justice; a single witness was not to be admitted as sufficient to convict a man of any offence, either civil or criminal.^[3]

The reason this principle is important in the preaching of God’s Word is because for those who do not believe, divine judgment is promised to come upon them.^[4] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.^[5] Because God has decreed that those who believe not the truth must come under judgment, then it is reasonable that sinners should be given the greatest evidence that what has been presented to them, has God as its source—that the Word spoken is not simply the word of men^[6] but is indeed the true Word of God, which also shall be upheld by Him. So that if the Gospel is still rejected,^[7] then it can neither be claimed nor said that God did not give ample testimony to its truthfulness.

In Jesus’s ministry we see the use of multiple witnesses. Examples include Jesus sending His disciples out two by two so that each disciple would strengthen the testimony of the other regarding Jesus being God’s only begotten Son and Israel’s Messiah.^[8] Three disciples—Peter, James, and John—were present at the transfiguration of Christ, enabling them to testify of the true glory of the Son of God.^[9] Christ also proclaimed that it was not just His own witness that gave credence to His being the Son of God, but the Father also bore witness to Christ’s true identity.^[10] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.^[11] The signs, miracles, and wonders done by Jesus also confirmed His being sent by God. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:^[12] The same truth can be said concerning the Holy Spirit bearing testimony to the divine and supernatural ministry of Christ. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:^[13] The Apostle Paul also, in writing to the Thessalonians, opens His epistles with Silvanus and Timothy,^[14] two other gift ministries^[15] confirming the revelation he was about to reveal.^[16] It is always hoped, that if one witness is not sufficient to bring people to belief, then another might. And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.^[17] Revelation given twice is established. Like Pharaoh’s dream that was doubled by the Lord, revelation repeated shall be certainly fulfilled. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.^[18]

(Cambridge Bible, Gen. 41:32) doubled … twice] This is a literal rendering. The repetition of the dream shewed emphatically that the thing was “established,” i.e. made fixed and sure, by the decree of God. Cf. Psalm 93:2, “Thy throne is established”; Hosea 6:3, “sure as the morning.” will shortly bring it to pass] Lit. “hasteneth to do it.” Hence there is urgent need to take measures in good time to meet the crisis which is bound to come.^[19]

By these examples and others it is hoped that in the preaching of God’s Word, when multiple witnesses join together testifying to the validity of a truth, there can be a great degree of confidence that what is agreed upon is the truth. Hence, when truly spiritual men speak independently yet draw the same conclusions, then it is possible to know that the same Spirit of Christ^[20] is leading them. This is essential when entering such topics as Christ’s return,^[21] and what it takes to be truly saved by God.^[22] Thankfully, all that genuinely has its source in God is sure to manifest profit to those who believe it.^[23] Thus when God sends His Word, whether by letter,^[24] Spirit,^[25] or prophet,^[26] because God is Its true Author, it shall prosper where sent.^[27] This teaches us that if it is truly the Word of God that is both heard and believed, then God shall do all that He has proclaimed He would.^[28] So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.^[29]

Lastly, readers will find a voluminous amount of scripture references added to the text. This is to illustrate that not only do the author and other esteemed men of God agree on the interpretation and revelation presented, but also the scripture itself is the third and final witness confirming the truth revealed. So then if men still do not believe when even multiple scriptures confirm the truth, there is little more that can be done. At this point, though rejectors of Christ’s words may remain religious, the truth is they will just seek out teachers, false teachers, who will enable them to continue in their sins and lusts. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;^[30]

Footnotes

^[1]  Deut. 19:15

^[2]  Deut. 17:6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

Num. 35:30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.

^[3]  Pulpit Commentary, Deut. 19:15

^[4]   Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Rev. 21:8 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.

^[5]   II Thess. 2:12

^[6]  Gal. 1:11&12 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. ¹²For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

I Thess. 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

II Tim. 3:16 ll scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

II Pet. 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

^[7]  Matt. 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Luke 22:67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

John 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

John 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Acts 28:24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

^[8]  Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

^[9]  Matt. 17:1–8 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, ²And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. ³And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. ⁴Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. ⁵While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. ⁶And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. ⁷And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. ⁸And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Luke 9:28–36 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. ²⁹And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. ³⁰And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: ³¹Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. ³²But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. ³³And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. ³⁴While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. ³⁵And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. ³⁶And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

^[10]  John 5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

John 8:18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

I John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

^[11]  Matt. 3:17

^[12]  Acts 2:22

^[13]  John 15:26

^[14]  I Thess. 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

II Thess. 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

^[15]  Eph. 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

^[16]  I Thess. 4:15-17 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

^[17]  Exod. 4:8

^[18]  Gen. 41:32

^[19]  Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, Gen. 41:32

^[20]  I Pet. 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

^[21]  Matt. 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

I Cor. 1:7&8 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: ⁸Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Col. 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

I Thess. 4:16&17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

II Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Rev. 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

^[22]  John 3:3–6 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ⁴Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? ⁵Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Rom. 10:9&10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

^[23]  I Cor. 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

^[24]  Rom. 15:15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,

I Cor. 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Gal. 6:11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

Heb. 13:22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

I Pet. 5:12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

II Pet. 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

I John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

I John 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

I John 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

I John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

^[25]  II Sam. 23:2 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

Isa. 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.

Ezek. 2:2 And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.

Matt. 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Acts 28:25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

I Cor. 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

I Cor. 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

^[26]  II Kgs. 21:10 And the Lord spake by his servants the prophets, saying,

Ezek. 1:3 The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was there upon him.

Ezek. 38:17 Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?

Dan. 9:10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

Zech. 7:12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts.

Luke 1:70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

Acts 3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

^[27]  Ps. 33:9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

Hos. 6:5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.

Eph. 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

^[28]  Josh. 21:45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

Josh. 23:14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.

I Kgs. 8:56 Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.

Jer. 1:12 Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

Lam. 2:17 The Lord hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.

Ezek. 12:28 Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God.

Jas. 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Rom. 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

II Tim. 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

^[29]  Isa. 55:11

^[30]  II Tim. 4:3