Many Christians may be unaware that Jesus actually invoked the same principle in addressing the way in which offenses among believers are to be handled: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 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 18:15-16, English Standard Version).
What might Jesus mean by establishing the charge “by the evidence of two or three witnesses?” I think his point is that the others present will have an opportunity to see not only any tangible evidence of the wrongdoing, but also the reaction of the accused to the accusing brother, to judge his verbal response and his body language and to determine both parties’ respective credibility. But notice what Jesus is requiring: that the offended brother go back to the offender along with the third parties - in short, to confront that person and also to afford him the reciprocal opportunity to confront his accuser bef ...
