When We Judge Others Unfairly

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
Deuteronomy 17:6 (NKJV)

ourts of law operate on the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’. Both the prosecution and the defendant have a right to bring witnesses to prove respective claims before the judge gives the verdict.

There is a court, though, that does not respect the rights of the accused. In the court of public opinion, you are guilty until you prove your innocence. Your accuser can concoct a mixture of lies and truth and fix your fate.

On The Testimony of Two or Three Witnesses

In contemporary society, social media is perhaps the largest and most vibrant court of public opinion. Here people believe and share most of what is posted about people they do not like.

This Mosaic Law contains a principle that can help us avoid the sin of judging others unfairly: “Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.” (Deuteronomy 17:6).

Jesus and Paul emphasized this principles in their teachings (Read Matthew 18:16 & 1 Timothy 5:19). We go against this rule when we spread negative unverified information about others.

When We Judge Others Unfairly

Before we judge others and spread rumours against them, let us take time to get our facts right. Solomon uses unflattering language to describe those who commit this sin, “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.” (Proverbs 18:13).

Consider adopting Bernard Meltzer’s criterion: “Before you speak ask yourself if what you are going to say is true, is kind, is necessary, is helpful. If the answer is no, maybe what you are about to say should be left unsaid.”

Prayer
Heavenly Father, teach me to establish facts before spreading negative information about others.