RESISTANCE. 2nd Timothy 4:3 “Ears that want to be scratched” describe people who prefer to hear what pleases them when listening to preaching rather than the truth. When such individuals encounter something new and controversial from a new or popular preacher, or hear about a book that fits their lifestyle, they will follow it for a while. If a teaching is sensational, challenges what they were taught, aligns with what they want to believe, or is pleasing to them, they will read the books and attend the sermons. Comparing that teaching with the Bible is not considered “objective.” Many of the religious people today will not meet the standards of God's word because they choose not to. They will not listen to "sound doctrine." They avoid what is right if it conflicts with their way of life. They want to control who and what they listen to. Healthy doctrine teaches both what is right and what is wrong. These people will not "endure, put up with," or accept sound doctrine. The sound doctrine's wholesome words do not attract them, so they change their minds and follow fables. In their “search for truth” – their own version of truth – they do not tolerate, respect, or show any interest in the standards of God's word as a means to reach sound judgment. To them, the Bible is just a collection of ancient writings that don’t make sense because they don’t align with their narrative. They claim their truth is correct and refuse to accept what the tried and proven word of God says. The people of God will hold fast to sound doctrine, even though many around them will reject it because they have their own desires and don't want to submit to God's revealed will. As a result, they turn away from the truth to myths. Today, many churches no longer preach the Gospel. Many preachers do not preach the Word of God; they only use it as a springboard to promote their own ideas. Numerous teachers and professors claim to have greater understanding of right and wrong than what is taught in the scriptures. They assert that they know what God meant better than God Himself. The result is that they gather, "heap," the kind of teachers they want, who will tell them what they want to hear. They pay them to do this, and because they have "itching ears," they will want to be gratified by those who flatter them. They deliberately turn away from the truth even though they know it, and pay attention to those who distort the Gospel into no more than a fable or fictional story. They refuse to accept the truth and reject any absolute standards for judgment that don't align with their desires. They choose drama and entertainment over genuine truth, believing and claiming what they feel and want as their own truth. More than that, they resist being told anything different. They label those who disagree with them as "intolerant," "unfeeling," and "bigots" who refuse to accept their viewpoints. They expect others' opinions to fit their own. This behavior is characteristic of people living in the last days.
2 Timothy 4:3