Who is the Bible referring to when it talks about people having itching ears?

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Tim. 4:3-4 KJV).

It's so tempting to use the above Scripture to categorize other Christians who believe differently than we do. When they teach something different, we are tempted to say, "They have itching ears."

The truth is that the people mentioned in verse three are turning unto fables as listed in verse four. The Greek word translated as fable is muthos. This means a tale or something made up.

This word is used in other places in the Bible, which can help us understand what the Bible means by a fable. This will indicate to what these people are turning their itching ears.

Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
(Titus 1:11-14 KJV)

But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
(1 Tim. 4:7-8 KJV)

It's not the warning of a different point of view, but the Scripture is warning about make-believe teaching that doesn't have biblical foundation.


Bible Answers Foundation
All rights reserved. Used by permission.