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;
Ver. 3. Sound doctrine] Which, as honey, vulnera purgat, ulcera mordet, purgeth green wounds, but causeth pain to exulcerate parts. (Alex. Aphtod. problem.) Children, though they love and lick in honey, yet will not endure to have it come near their lips when they have sore mouths. There are those who are mad against the medicine, and fly in the faces of their spiritual physicians that come to cure them: they are sick of a Noli me tangere, refuse to touch me, and had rather perish in their sins than part with them. These must be pitied as people out of their right minds, and pulled out of the devil's paws; this, saith Jerome, is sancta violentia, optabilis rapina, a holy violence, a desirable rapine; they will thank us, if ever they recover; as if not, yet our reward is with the Lord. The physician is paid, whether the patient live or die. A minister must exhort "with all longsuffering," and often sigh out with good old Jacob (troubled at his children's untowardness), "Lord, I have waited for thy salvation," Genesis 49:18 .
Having itching ears] Which must have clawing preachers; such as will never auriculas mordaci radere vero (Horat.), deal plainly and faithfully with their souls.