16 " If a malicious witness rises up against a man to accuse him of wrongdoing , 17 then both the men who have the dispute shall stand before the Lord , before the priests and the judges who will be in office in those days . 18 "The judges shall investigate thoroughly , and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely , 19 then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother . Thus you shall purge the evil from among you. 20 " The rest will hear and be afraid , and will never again e do such an evil thing among you. 21 "Thus you shall not show pity : life for life , eye for eye , tooth for tooth , hand for hand , foot for foot .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:16-21
Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:15-21
(Read Deuteronomy 19:15-21)
Sentence should never be passed upon the testimony of one witness alone. A false witness should suffer the same punishment which he sought to have inflicted upon the person he accused. Nor could any law be more just. Let all Christians not only be cautious in bearing witness in public, but be careful not to join in private slanders; and let all whose consciences accuse them of crime, without delay flee for refuge to the hope set before them in Jesus Christ.