What Does it Mean to ‘Touch Not Mine Anointed?’
By Mel C. Montgomery
In the Charismatic movement, numerous individuals misunderstand 1 Chronicles 16:22
as it is translated in the King James Version:
Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no
harm.
Some leaders use this scripture to mislead, dominate, and control their followers. Other
individuals see this scripture as a license to avoid any responsibility to test and judge
teachings by their leaders. They believe that if the leader is “anointed” you are to never
question their teaching or practice. If you question their teachings or practice, some
leaders will throw this scripture at you, implying that if you question them, you are
“touching” their supposed “anointing.”
Does this scripture mean that we are never to question anything a Charismatic leader or
prophet does? Of course not! Does this mean that the teachings of any healing
evangelist, prophet, or anyone with a substantial anointing are to be considered
unquestionable? Again, the answer is, of course not.
Let’s look at this scripture in context and see what it actually means. The writer of First
Chronicles, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was giving an historical
review of how God protected Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebecca—who were the
ancestors of the Jewish people. Let’s read the passage in question in its context from the
New Living Translation:
This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he
swore to Isaac.
He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, and to the people of
Israel as a never-ending covenant:
“I will give you the
land of Canaan as your special possession.”
He said this when you were few in number, a tiny group of
strangers in Canaan.
They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to
another.
Yet he did not let anyone oppress them. He warned kings on
their behalf:
“What Does it Mean to ‘Touch Not Mine Anointed?’” by Rev. Mel C. Montgomery
“Do not touch my chosen people, and
prophets.”--1 Chronicles 16:16-22 (NLT).
do
not
hurt
my
The last verse in the King James Version reads:
“. . . Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no
harm.”
The writer of First Chronicles is referring back to what happened to Abraham and Sarah
while they were living in the land of Gerar whose leader was King Abimelech. Abraham
believed the land to be a godless place, and thus feared that someone would kill him to
get his wife. Therefore, he decided to introduce Sarah as his sister. (1 Chron. 16:2, 1113). So, King Abimelech sent for Sarah and took her into his household. However,
before he could sleep with her, God rebuked him in a dream saying, “You are a dead
man, for that woman you have taken is already married!” (vs. 3). Abimelech protested
to the Lord his innocence based on the fact that he did not know she was married. The
Lord replied in verses 6 and 7, “. . . Yes, I know you are innocent. That’s why I kept you
from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her. Now return the woman to
her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you
don’t return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die.”
(Underline mine).
In response to God’s rebuke, King Abimelech speedily returned Sarah to Abraham along
a present of sheep, goats, cattle, male and female servants, and one thousand pieces of
silver. He also told Abraham to pick out any place in his land and to live there. Thus we
see a fulfillment of 1 Chron. 16:21, 22:
He warned kings on their behalf:
“Do not touch my chosen
people, and do not hurt my prophets.”
King Abimelech was warned not to “touch” Sarah by sleeping with her, or to “hurt”
Abraham whom God identified as “a prophet.”
Yet, this was not the only fulfillment of 1 Chron. 16:22. Years later, Isaac and Rebecca
chose to move back to Gerar. And, like his father before him, Isaac told others that his
wife was actually his sister. King Abimelech who was still the king of Gerar, perceived
Isaac’s deception. “Then Abimelech issued a public proclamation: “Anyone who touches
this man or his wife will be put to death!” (Gen. 26:11 NLT).
The accounts of Abraham and Isaac are beautiful fulfillments of 1 Chronicles 16:20-22
which reads:
They wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to
another.
Yet he did not let anyone oppress them.
He
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“What Does it Mean to ‘Touch Not Mine Anointed?’” by Rev. Mel C. Montgomery
warned kings on their behalf:
“Do not touch my chosen
people, and do not hurt my prophets.”
“Do not touch my chosen people . . .”—Concerning Isaac and Rebecca, King Abimelech
decreed: “Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death!”
“. . . and do not hurt my prophets”—God said to the same King Abimelech years earlier,
“You are a dead man. . . Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you,
for he is a prophet. Then you will live.”
This passage was written to remind the Jewish people how God protected the patriarchs
of their religion from forces far greater than they, when they chose to obey God and
place their complete trust in Him. Millennia later we, as New Testament Christians can
look back at the example of Abraham’s faith and rest assured that the same God is with
us today and that in whatever we face, He will ultimately work things out for our good.
(Rom. 8:28).
Thus we can see that 1 Chron. 16:22 is not a blanket warning never to “touch” an
anointed minister today by questioning any of his or her teachings. We are not required
to blindly follow any minister into false doctrine, or strap ourselves to ministers as they
jump off a theological cliff.
As we consider 1 Chron. 16:22, we must also understand that it refers to actions that
took place in the Old Testament. Today, we New Testament believers have the Holy
Spirit residing within us. Additionally, those of us who have accepted the experience we
refer to as the baptism in the Holy Spirit—which is usually accompanied by the
miraculous sign of speaking in tongues—have the Holy Spirit also resting upon us in
supernatural power. Thus, all believers today are anointed. All believers have the
capacity to be led of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle John writes,
But the anointing that you
and you have no need that
his anointing teaches you
and is no lie—just as it
John 2:27 (ESV).
received from him abides in you,
anyone should teach you. But as
about everything, and is true,
has taught you, abide in him.—I
The anointing all believers have received of the Holy Spirit is sufficient to empower us to
live a godly life and thus, be a true witness unto Christ. (Acts 1:8). How powerful is this
Holy Spirit anointing? Sufficient so that, as the Holy Spirit leads, you have the ability to
speak in other tongues, and be used by the Lord in healing, casting out devils, and other
supernatural occurrences according to the operation of His will. I would exhort you also
to remember Paul’s statement, “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all
principality and power:”—Col. 2:10. We have no need for any unquestionable leader to
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“What Does it Mean to ‘Touch Not Mine Anointed?’” by Rev. Mel C. Montgomery
lord himself or herself over us. All we need from leaders is help in understanding how
to walk in the completeness of the salvation that Christ has provided to us.
I believe that ministers who claim that their teachings, or the teachings of some other
minister, prophet, or healing evangelist are beyond question are either ignorant of the
meaning of 1 Chron. 16:22, or they are cultic leaders who are trying to control people
through misapplying this scripture. Ignorance can be cured by giving them knowledge
of the appropriate application of this scripture. Thus, misinformed ministers can then
adjust their attitude. However, cultic ministers who use this scripture to control their
followers present a different situation entirely. If they are shown the true meaning of 1
Chron. 16:22, and they continue to take it out of context to browbeat anyone who asks a
legitimate question of their teachings, then the only option is to immediately flee from
them. You don’t need to pray about it. You don’t need to wait for a “witness” or a
“release.” I have seen numerous Christians lose their resolve when they waited too long.
You need to separate yourself as quickly as possible from such manipulative control.
No one is above the law of the land. No minister is above being asked to provide clear
biblical explanations for his teachings, practices, or behavior. No saint can shirk their
responsibility to judge the teachings that come from the ministries they support.
©2015 Rev. Mel C. Montgomery All Rights Reserved.
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“What Does it Mean to ‘Touch Not Mine Anointed?’” by Rev. Mel C. Montgomery
—About the Author—
Mel Montgomery is a reformer and pastor
used in spiritual gifts since 1989. His background
includes being mentored by Mom Goodwin in her
final years. The Rev. and Mrs. J. R. Goodwin,
affectionately referred to as “Mom and Dad
Goodwin” by those who knew them, were
Pentecostal pioneers. Entering ministry in 1936,
they pastored, flowed in prophetic ministry, and
operated prolifically in spiritual gifts for more than
forty years. In 1938, they took a young Kenneth
Hagin under their wing and Dad Goodwin
mentored him for the rest of his life.
Mel features on his website, rare early
Pentecostal recordings by: F. F. Bosworth, Howard
Carter, Stanley Frodsham, David Du Plessis, and by
Mel’s mentors, the Rev. and Mrs. J. R. Goodwin
(affectionately referred to as “Mom and Dad
Goodwin”). These recordings were entrusted to Mel
by the copyright holders. Most had never been
copied or released to the public before they were
given to Mel, and most of these recordings are available exclusively on his website,
www.brothermel.org.
Mel shared some of the truths he learned from the Goodwins in his first book,
The Genuine Flow: How the Faith Giants Flowed in the Spirit and How You Can Too.
Then in a follow-up book, he set forth seven principles to use to objectively judge
teachings, entitled, The Seven Laws of Balance: How To Judge Teachings and Ignite a
Charismatic Reformation. In his book, he judged the Spiritual Sufferings of Christ
teaching, the Baptism in the Name of Jesus Only teaching, the God-Kind of Faith, and
several other teachings that have become popular in recent years, showing that they
have no real biblical support on which to stand.
Recently, the Lord directed Mel to pioneer a new local church in Tulsa. He is
laying the groundwork now. His church will be called, The 120 Church. T And its focus
will be to “Join sound doctrine with the genuine moving of the Holy Spirit like the 120
believers experienced on the Day of Pentecost.”
For more information about Mel’s ministry and upcoming church, please visit:
www.brothermel.org. Mel may be reached by e-mail at [email protected].
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