Verum Dictum

In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.

John 8:17-18 ESV

It was a maxim of Jewish law, “that the testimony of two people is true.”

Simply put, two corroborating witnesses are more likely in the truth than one.

This was derived from Deuteronomy 17:6, where “at the mouth of two witnesses shall he that is worthy of death be put to death.”

Two witnesses were required, in favor of life, that in a case punishable by death, as with a case of treason, ample evidence of the accused’s guilt would be supplied.

The Pharisees accused Jesus of false testimony on the grounds that he bore witness about himself, but that was not so.

As Jesus reminded them, “the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” The Father and his Spirit bore witness about Jesus at the Jordan. The “heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16b-17).

We don’t serve a man who spoke with empty words or made void promises. We serve the Lord Jesus, whom the Father of all creation affirmed and sent.

This Jesus, this Servant King, is the one whose testimony is true and eternal.

“Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37

Focus on the truth of Jesus’ words today.