2 Timothy 4:3

3 For time shall be, when men shall not suffer wholesome teaching, but at their desires they shall gather together to themselves masters itching to the ears. [Forsooth time shall be, when men shall not sustain whole doctrine, but at their desires, they shall gather together to themselves masters itching, or pleasing, to the ears.]

2 Timothy 4:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Timothy 4:3

For the time will come
This is a reason of the solemn charge above given: the time referred to was future, when the apostle wrote, but quickly came on; and the characters of it have appeared more or less in all ages since; and in none more than in ours:

when they will not endure sound doctrine;
the Gospel which contains the wholesome words of Christ, and is sound itself, having no corruption in it, and salutary in its effects to the souls of men; and yet such is the depravity of some men, both in principles and practice, that they cannot receive it, nor bear to hear it, turn their backs on it, express their indignation at it, and treat it not only with neglect, but with ridicule and contempt:

but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers;
not being content with the ministry of one man only, or of a few, though of their own sort; but must follow many, and have heaps of them; which seems to express not only the number of false teachers which they accumulate to themselves, but the confused and indiscreet choice they make of them; and that after their own lusts; choosing to hear such as either indulge them in their sinful lusts and pleasures; or are agreeable to their private corrupt sentiments, in opposition to the generally received doctrine of faith. It is a blessing to have pastors and teachers after God's heart, and who preach according to the word of God; these feed men with knowledge and understanding, ( Jeremiah 3:15 ) but it is a curse upon a people, when they are left to choose teachers after their hearts' lusts:

having itching ears;
always desirous of new things, as the Athenians of old; or loving to have their ears scratched and tickled with smooth things; that are pleasing and agreeable to natural men, and carnal minds; as the purity of human nature, the power of man's free will, the excellency of his righteousness, and the merit of his works, and the like; see ( Isaiah 30:9 Isaiah 30:10 ) . Now, this being the case, should not discourage, but rather animate the ministers of the Gospel to preach it; for should they desist, in all likelihood the Gospel would soon be gone.

2 Timothy 4:3 In-Context

1 I witness before God and Christ Jesus, that shall deem the quick and the dead, by the coming of him, and the kingdom of him,

2 preach the word, be thou busy suitably without rest, reprove thou, beseech thou, blame thou in all patience and doctrine. [preach the word, be thou busy to opportune and inopportune, reprove, beseech, blame in all patience and doctrine.]

3 For time shall be, when men shall not suffer wholesome teaching, but at their desires they shall gather together to themselves masters itching to the ears. [Forsooth time shall be, when men shall not sustain whole doctrine, but at their desires, they shall gather together to themselves masters itching, or pleasing, to the ears.]

4 And truly they shall turn away the hearing from truth, but to fables they shall turn. [And truly they shall turn away their hearing from truth, but to fables they shall be turned together.]

5 But wake thou, in all things travail thou, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy service [fulfill thy service, or office], be thou sober.