Amen brother,
Ths scripture you quoted says it all, "heaping to themselves, teachers, having itching ears" (KJV). This is illustrated profoundly in the debates where men search diligently for commentaries and other men who can affirm their views and interpretations, rather than consulting the Holy Spirit and scripture, willing to submit to Him no matter the personal outcome - because pride demands us to be right rather than true. The people only tolerate the preachers who tell them exactly what they want to hear, always affirming them in ungodliness and letting them stay in the status quo of religion, rather than the narrow way of following Jesus. These are the days in which we are living.
The Lord quickened this verse to me a while ago:
"It is a snare to say rashly, "It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.” (Proverbs 20:25; ESV).
This is the plight of our day - generations now have rashly called anything that tickles their ears, affirms them in their present state, or generally makes no requirement on them holy, and walk out into it and attach themselves to it without reflecting or fulfilling the command of Paul, "Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21; ESV). Test EVERYTHING - no matter how good it looks on the outside or at first analysis, test it and only hold onto it if it proves good and aligns with the revealed character of God in Jesus, and plain scripture. Private interpretation and cherry picking scripture, and relying on men who steal milk from other men is the justification of the piles of error that have destroyed the perception of Jesus and His church today - and the people love to have it so.
"Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?” When Moses heard it, he fell on his face, and he said to Korah and all his company, "In the morning the LORD will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him. Do this: take censers, Korah and all his company; put fire in them and put incense on them before the LORD tomorrow, and the man whom the LORD chooses shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!”” (Numbers 16:1-7; ESV).
We have this same scenario playing out before us, and we were warned it would happen. Well known men calling that which is for dogs holy, and opposing the true spokesmen of God.
"Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:11-25; ESV).
Everything we see before us was told beforehand, down to the detail. If any are blind, it is on purpose, or the more frightening explanation, that Jesus has been hidden from their recognition as He was to those on the road to Emmaus, until they recognize Him in the broken bread and the cup of His blood.
