“Therefore I solemnly witness before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is going to judge the living and the dead according to His appearance and His kingdom, preach the Word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For a time will be when they will not endure sound doctrine, but they will heap up teachers to themselves according to their own lusts, tickling the ear. And they will turn away their ears from the truth and will be turned to myths. But you watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, and fully carry out your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-5
Itching ears is a term used in the Bible to describe individuals who seek out messages and doctrines that condone their own lifestyle, as opposed to adhering to the teachings of the apostles. The term is found only once in the Bible, in 2 Timothy 4. [Wikipedia]
The root of the Greek word ‘ ἀκοήν’ translates to ear , or a sense of hearing . The use of ἀκοήν is often regarding an inner spiritual hearing .
Paul uses the same root word in his letter to the Romans.
Then faith is of hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Rom 10:17
Paul is describing the future Timothy will face, where people would not endure sound doctrine , and instead heap to themselves teachers in order to satisfy their itching ears.
Albert Barnes says this concerning the text: “ The apostle here says that by turning away from Timothy, and from sound instruction, they would not abandon all religious teachers, but would rather increase and multiply them. Paul warns Timothy about a future apostasy in which the lusts of people would drive them away from Apostolic teaching, which Timothy belonged to.”
Having a ‘wandering spirit’ became common during my generation. It is seen in how uncommitted we have become to our relationships, jobs, and church. It seems as though we have accepted the idea that if we are not personally happy, and fulfilled in any of these situations we simply leave and search for the next relationship, job, or church that we think, or at least hope will meet our perceived needs and desires.
Recorded in John chapter six, Jesus preached a sermon that a lot of people didn’t like and they left.
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.”
John 6:66
Sadly, so many believe that in their wonderings they will find that elusive relationship, job, or church that will give them what they’re looking for. Please notice that Jesus did not chase after them but let them go.