3 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3–4 (ESV)
In today’s text, the phrase the time is coming (ἔσται καιρὸς; estai kairos) refers to a period of time, a season or an era which will exist in the future. It will be an age which will happen or occur. What will happen during this future period of time? How will believers in Christ know the arrival of this future time period? The Apostle Paul answered these questions with four definitive statements.
First, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching.” The word when (ὅτε; hote) means a point in time overlapping another point in time. In other words, it is an occasion which will happen (James 1:2; I Peter 2:12). What will happen is people will not endure (οὐκ ἀνέξονται; ouk anexontai). This means certain individuals will not collectively, personally and assuredly accept, receive or be patient with sound teaching (ὑγιαινούσης διδασκαλίας; hygiainouses didaskalias). The verb “sound” means to be presently, actively and possessively healthy and accurate. The English word hygiene comes from this Greek word. Teaching refers to biblical doctrine and its instruction.
Second, “For the times is coming when people … having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” The phrase itching ears (κνηθόμενοι ἀκοήν; knethomenoi akoen) refers to the desire to hear what one wants to hear.
Consequently, these individuals will accumulate (ἐπισωρεύσουσιν; episoreusousin) or heap up for themselves (ἑαυτοῖς; eautois) teachers (διδασκάλους; didaskalous) meaning master instructors. People will accumulate these so-called teachers because they will suit the public’s desires. To suit their own passions (κατὰ ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας; kata idias epithumias) means to be in agreement with the public’s passion and lusts.
“It is not the herald of the gospel that is at fault, but the hearing of the fickle men who make up the audience! They have ears that are itching (from a verb which in the active means to tickle; hence, in the passive, to be tickled, and thus to itch, fig. “to have an irritating desire”). Their craving is for teachers to suit their fancies or perverted tastes (2 Tim. 2:22). So great is that hankering that they pile up teacher upon teacher.”[1]
“This reminds one of Jer. 5:31, “The prophets prophesy falsely … and my people love to have it so,” and of Ezek. 33:32, “And lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear thy words, but they do them not.” The people here pictured are more interested in something different, something sensational, than they are in sober truth. And when sober truth is presented (as it surely was by Ezekiel), they are not interested in the truth itself, but only in the way in which it is presented, the preacher’s “style,” “oratory,” … the preacher himself, his voice, bearing, looks, mannerisms. Here in 2 Timothy 4:3, 4 the emphasis is on the craving for fascinating stories and philosophical speculations.”[2]
Dr. John MacArthur writes, “They want their ears tickled. They don’t want to be confronted. They don’t want to be convicted. They want to be entertained. They want pleasant feelings, anecdotes, humor, psychology, motivational lectures, reassurance, positive thinking, self-congratulation, ego- massaging sermonettes and small talk, not biblical reproof, rebuke and exhortation. But the truth of God doesn’t tickle your ears, it boxes them. It burns them.”
“The church is throwing its arms open wide and embracing every kind of aberrant viewpoint. Christians madly pursue extrabiblical revelation in the form of prophecies and dreams. Preachers deny the reality of hell. The modern gospel promises heaven apart from holiness. Churches ignore the biblical teaching on women’s roles, homosexuality and other issues that are somehow politically charged. The human medium has overtaken the divine message and this is evidence of a serious doctrinal compromise.”
Are you more interested in a preacher’s style rather than substance? Does the preaching and teaching of biblical truth make you uncomfortable? Do you desire the pastor to tell you what you want to hear instead of what you need to hear? If this describes you, the Bible says you have itching ears. The biblical answer is to repent of this sin and crave the truth of God’s sanctifying truth; the Word of God (John 17:17; I Peter 2:1-3).
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a God-glorifying day.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 311.
[2] Ibid., 311–312.
