2nd Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
This passage of scripture tells us of a period of earth's history, when many people will desire to hear only what is pleasing to the ear, and would refuse to study the word of God objectively. That time has fully come, for in our day there is a settled tendency to hold the truths of God's word subjectively, meaning that they are subject to modification, deletion or abrogation, if they dare to interfere with our carnal desires and actions.
When the law of God and the truths of His word are changed into what we believe they should mean, then the restraining power of God is lost upon us and we are made the sport and mockery of the devil. Hence the reason why we see and hear so often, that prominent preachers, televangelists, bishops, priests, and clergy have fallen into divers sins and errors, too abhorrent to be repeated.
The problem of "Itching ears" was made manifest in the experience of Ahab who had paid his clergy to tell him only what he desired to hear. And so, when he desired to go to battle against the inhabitants of Ramoth Gilead, the paid priests concurred with him, and gladly prophesied to him what he wanted to hear. Let's read:
1st Kings 22:3 And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria? 5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day. 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the Lord, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them. 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the king's hand.
This advice coming from the mouth of salaried prophets, was what Ahab desired to hear, but it was bad counsel, for during the military campaign that ensued, king Ahab was fatally shot and later died the same day. What is worthy of note is that the true prophet of God warned him of the very same danger, yet he refused his counsel because it was not in harmony with his desires. Let's read:
1st Kings 22:13 And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good. 14 And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak. 17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. 18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
1st Kings 22:34 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. 35 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot. 37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.
It's not everything we read in the Bible that we would agree with, for the carnal mind is always at enmity with God, and the two can never, ever be reconciled, except there be a change of heart on our part. The Bible teaches us that the flesh wars against the Holy Spirit, and He in turn wages war against the carnal desires of our hearts, and therefore, if reconciliation must take place in our lives, one will have to surrender, and it's not the Holy Ghost.
In order then for us not to be infected with the deadly virus of "Itching ears", we would need to study the word of God with a humble heart and a teachable spirit, willing to surrender our most cherishes ideas and habits, when they conflict with the scriptures. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will enable us to study God's word and His character objectively, not weaving into them our own preconceived ideas. Let's read:
Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
If we approach the study of God's word with a humble attitude, following diligently the above mentioned instructions, then our exegesis of the scriptures will never lead us into false paths. We hope and pray that this may be our experience throughout our Christian journey, for God is faithful to His every word. God bless!