The Grands Letter

The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Deuteronomy 19:16-21,”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 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.”

If it has never occurred to you, prior to reading this passage of Scripture, it seems certain that it will have its intention on your life. Of course, we are not living in Old Testament times; therefore, it has to be understood, as if we were, in order for its meaning to be perfectly clear.

I was once introduced to a man who had for several years served my area as a judge. I greeted him with an extended hand and an intentional fear-like face saying: “I didn’t do it, your Honor!” Fortunately, we both laughed. It might not have worked as well, had we been in court and in session.

Our judicial system was originally founded upon Scripture. Everything honest and truthful was originally based upon what is written by the Hand of God. Over time, however, mankind drifted away from the Scriptures and from all of the LORD’s instruction. When that occurs without punishment for even one person, it gives encouragement to others to ignore what is right and to act as if one were not guilty.

The LORD’s instruction for the judges regarding those who stand before them is “…you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” We should all remember this teaching and determine to be what we ought to be at all times, just as the LORD wills. And if we want justice, we must be willing for others to have it, too –even if works against us!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom