Itching ears look for itching words and vice versa.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they shall heap to themselves teachers in accordance with their own lusts. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned toward fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4
Itching literally means to itch, rub, scratch or tickle! To want ones ears "tickled" is to desire a massage rather than a message. Desiring comfort, entertainment and feel good words with titillating gourmet word salad to fill ones needs and wants!
When people have itching ears they decide for themselves what is right and wrong, meaning they will seek out others to support their notions, assuring all is well. The results of this is one of a watered-down, broken cistern that can hold no water.
Forsaking the fountain of life that dwells within us!
The craving for the new, fresher, contemporary church is ever present. Messages that tickle ears can fill a lot of churches and sell a lot of books. Itching ears is a figure of speech referring to peoples desires, needs or wants. It is designed to impel a person to believe whatever he wants to believe, rather than the truth itself.
Many of His disciples therefore, when they had heard this, said, “This is a hard teaching; who can hear it?” John 6:60
Many of Jesus's disciples turned back and no longer followed him. Itchy ears wears "walking away shoes" and walking away from the truth "boots"! The Earth is filling with itching ears and looking for the itching words to sooth and massage their comfort levels. To endorse their demands. This is the very schemes of the enemy. Rearranging our words and truths. Truth is, God wants us transformed into His image!
Our ears give us balance! It is a sensory organ that picks up sound waves. It is essential to our sense of balance. Add to that, our eyes, the window to our soul. Our eyes are the lamp of our bodies and are the window to our soul. Balance is a condition in which different elements are equal, in the correct proportions or to be steady and stabilized. So when you find yourself with itchy ears, you might want to check your balance and motives.
The term itching ears is used to describe one who seeks out messages and doctrine that condones rather than convicts. It is an inner spiritual hearing process from both teachers and those who listen. Interesting that the scripture tells us that they will turn their ears from truth to fables. Fables are fictitious tales, fabricated stories that incorporate elements of myths and legend. In short, it means fantasy!
It is tempting to use the scripture to categorize Christians who believe differently than we do. It is tempting to just say "They have itching ears". Itching ears will look for fables.
It is not a warning of a different point of view, rather it is a warning about make believe teaching that has no biblical foundation. Do not fall into the trap of hearing only what you want. Lean into the whole counsel of God!!
As far back as the garden, Eve must have had itchy ears. The serpent tickled her curiosity with one question, "Did God really say?" We live in a world of options and so many choices. Do you want organic or non organic? Do you want decaf or caffeinated? Do you want whole, GMO free, fresh, day old and on. We are overwhelmed with options and choices. We are taught to be consumers and taught to shop around. We are taught to want more, be the best and shop until we have scratched our itch.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:14-15
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
Itchy and tingling ears will only get our tongues a wagging. Where is your itching ears leading you? One hungers for truth while itchy ears fuel your desire to hear words that suit your idea of truth. Itching ears want to be charmed and soothed. There is a dark side to charm. There is a dark side to charming words and they can spell bind you, bringing you flowers and smart vocabulary. A gourmet dish of appealing words. SNAP OUT OF IT! Let your soul thirst for the living God.