2 Timothy 4:3-4

‘For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts, and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables.’

For a time is coming when ‘they’ (those who veer from the truth - 1 Timothy 1:6, 22; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 1 Timothy 6:20 - and those who listen to them - 1 Timothy 3:6-7; 1 Timothy 1:19; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Timothy 6:21) will not be able to bear sound teaching. They will have ears that ‘itch with desire’ to learn the latest newfangled ideas (compare Acts 17:21) and want to be tickled with the latest fancy. They will want to discover some teaching that will satisfy them and yet enable them to live as they like. They will look for teachers who pander to what they want (prophets who say ‘peace, peace’ where there is no peace - compare Jeremiah 6:4; Jeremiah 8:11; Ezekiel 13:10). They will turn away their ears from the uncomfortable truth, preferring fables which sound fascinating, but make no demands on them and pander to their ‘spiritual’ taste buds. For they will not want truth, they will want what suits them. It was not difficult for Paul to foresee this, for he had already come across enough of such people himself, and was old in experience. But he was aware that young Timothy was still optimistic about reaching everyone effectively, and he wanted to ensure that he did not become disillusioned.