Who are God's chosen people?

"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.” 2 Tim. 4:3 (ESV)

The above passage came to mind as I was writing an editorial a couple of weeks back that was regarding some false teaching on television by a so-called “Spiritual advisor.”   I got to thinking about the abundance of false teachers amongst us and, relating them to the above passage, I’d like to sort of follow-up on that earlier lesson but, look at it from the “ears (listener’s)” side of the equation rather than the “mouth” side.

I think that the first thing to realize about the above passage is that it’s a two-way street, so to speak.  The (1) side is people looking for false teachers and the other side (2) is teachers looking for followers.  It seems like most of the time I’ve heard sermons/lessons using this verse, it’s usually presented from the “teachers” side.  But, the teacher is only half of the equation so we’re going to look at it from the “ears” side today.

The first thing that we need to note about this passage is to look at verses 1 & 2.  There we read that the apostle Paul is giving Timothy a “charge” (mandate, mission or trust, as in “sacred trust).  Then in verse 3 he explains why he is to “preach the word” all of the time (“in season and out”), to “reprove, rebuke and exhort.”  And even tells him how he is to do this.  With “complete patience and teaching.”

And also note that this “charge” is made “in the presence of God and Christ Jesus.”   That’s why I said it was a “sacred trust.”  And those witnesses to the “charge” serves as evidence that Timothy is to teach ONLY the Word of God.  Not anything else or any other doctrine.

Okay, let’s now look at our passage-in-chief - verse 3.  Paul warns Timothy that time is coming “when people will not endure sound teaching.”      I’ll stop here a moment and make a pronouncement.  In my humble opinion, that “time” is now in full swing.  We have only to look at the examples of Christianity, or anything to do with it, and see it being bothered and hounded on all sides.

Plus, the proclivity of teachers and purveyors of false doctrines everywhere we look.  And a lot of them are crafting the message of their doctrine to be politically correct.  I’ll leave it to you to pick whichever current species of unrighteous behavior you want to apply this towards.

But, we’re concentrating on the “ears,” aren’t we, so we need to consider WHY they won’t “endure sound teaching (doctrine).”  Why they search out and find (“accumulate to themselves”) teachers who will preach/teach words they like hearing.  Or, as the scripture reads: “to suit their own passions.”  That last part of the verse hits the “WHY” nail right on the head, doesn’t it?

It’s really a simple explanation.  People just do not want to hear a doctrine that teaches the truth about sin.  See, that sort of teaching sets absolutes as to right and wrong.  On top of that, people today are so used to changing the parameters on what’s right or wrong, they feel like they have the authority to do the same with the parameters set by God’s Word.

The usual reason for the parameters being reset is because they get offended if they can’t behave in some way that their “passions” would like them to.  I believe that we have a society who are so used to changing the rules that they feel that they can also change God’s rules.  So they cast about (and they don’t have to cast very far) and find a teacher with a doctrine that fits their “passions.”

Let me just back up a moment and say that I don’t want to give you the impression that this “accumulating” of false teachers is something unique to this present society.  Away back in the history of the Jews, God’s “chosen people,” they also wanted the same thing as our “itching ears” of today want.  Allow me to direct you to something the prophet Isaiah said about them.

In Isaiah 30 and verses 9-10, read these words with me as the prophet describes the people of his day. “For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, ‘Do not see,’ and to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions.’ ”

Isaiah calls them “rebellious people” because they’re unwilling to “hear the instruction of the Lord.”  I ask you, is that any different than the people that Paul is warning Timothy about?  Is that any different than those today who have “itching ears?”   I think not!

So, they say to the prophets, God’s spokesmen at the time, “do not prophesy what is right.”  Like people of today seeking teachers who won’t bother them about what’s right or wrong.  The Jews only wanted to hear “smooth things.”  They wanted them to teach “illusions.”  Look up that word “illusions” if you get the chance and you’ll find that it means things like “deceptions, subterfuge and falseness.”  Still fits with our “itching ears,” doesn’t it?

That is exactly what our “itching ears” want today.  The same thing the “rebellious people” of Isaiah’s day wanted.  For the religious teachers to say things that fit their “passions” -  “smooth things.”  Tell us “illusions” IE: lie to us so we’ll feel good.  We’ll look and sound religious.

Well, just at Paul told Timothy, he had a “charge” to keep.  To “preach the Word” at all times.  At every opportunity.  It will “reprove, rebuke and exhort” and do it with love and “patience.”  So let me ask you, do you think that Christians have the same “charge” as Timothy?  That we are to teach the Gospel and only the Gospel at every opportunity we have?  The answer: absolutely.  We will not teach “illusions” no matter how many “itching ears” surround us.

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey