“Touch Not the Lord’s Anointed”? Why the Bible Does Not Teach Leader Immunity
A Phrase to Silence and Condemn
Few biblical phrases have done more damage in modern churches than the slogan,
“Touch not the Lord’s anointed.” It has been used to silence questions, suppress accountability, excuse spiritual abuse, protect false prophecy, and intimidate wounded believers into submission.
Those who use this phrase as a shield of protection tend to follow a familiar pattern: They make extraordinary claims about their own authority, suppress any questioning by appealing to the false idea that no one may “touch the Lord’s anointed,” dismiss critics as either rebellious or demonic, harm countless believers—many of whom walk away from Christ altogether—and are eventually exposed as liars and deceivers.
The Scripture most often cited to justify this posture is Psalm 105:15 (cf. 1 Chronicles 16:22). The implication is clear: the preacher is the anointed one, and to question him is to violate God’s law.
But verses do not stand alone, and they are not self-interpreting. To understand what Scripture teaches, we must read passages in context before applying them today.
Psalm 105:15: What the Text Is Actually About
Psalm 105 is a historical psalm, a poetic retelling of God’s faithfulness to Israel, from Abraham through the Exodus. It opens with a call to praise the Lord, seek His Presence, and remember His mighty works. The psalm then recounts specific acts of God’s providence, including His protection of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as they wandered through often-hostile lands. Within that context, verses 12-15 read,
“When they were few in number,
of little account, and sojourners in it
wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another people,
he allowed no one to oppress them;
he rebuked kings on their account,
saying, ‘Touch not my anointed ones,
do my prophets no harm!’”
The “anointed ones” in view are clearly the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The psalm describes God’s physical protection of His vulnerable servants from powerful kings and armies. Even then, this protection did not spare them from hardship; it preserved them through it.
The word touch here refers to physical harm—assault or killing—not disagreement, questioning, or testing claims. Nothing in the passage suggests a prohibition against discernment or correction. In fact, Scripture elsewhere explicitly commands practices such as testing claims to authority, doctrinal evaluation, moral correction, and even public rebuke in certain situations.
Just as importantly, Psalm 105 is descriptive, not prescriptive. It celebrates what God did in redemptive history; it does not promise that God’s servants will never be harmed or questioned. This is evident from the rest of the psalm, which recounts Joseph’s suffering through slavery and imprisonment, Israel’s oppression in Egypt, and their long trials in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land.
Simply reading the context makes it clear that Psalm 105 is not about pastors, apostles, or modern prophets being immune from scrutiny while claiming extraordinary authority, predicting false prophecies, and teaching false doctrine. It is a call to remember God’s historical faithfulness and to respond with rejoicing, trust, and a continual seeking of His presence.
“But What About 1 Chronicles 16 and 1 Samuel?”
Some object that Psalm 105 is not the only place Scripture speaks this way. First Chronicles 16 repeats much of Psalm 105, including the phrase, “Touch not my anointed ones.” But here again, context matters.
In 1 Chronicles 16, David has just defeated the Philistines and returned the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. Israel rejoices with singing, dancing, and music, and David leads the people in remembering the Lord’s mighty deeds by singing a variation of Psalm 105. The meaning of the phrase is unchanged; it is a direct repetition of the same historical celebration.
But what about 1 Samuel? Once again, the answer is simple: we must read the story carefully.
What the 1 Samuel Passages Actually Teach
In 1 Samuel 24 and 26, Saul is pursuing David in murderous rage. David is hiding in a cave when Saul enters alone. David has a clear opportunity to kill Saul, but he refuses. Instead, he cuts off a corner of Saul’s robe and later presents it as proof that he spared Saul’s life. David explains his restraint by saying he would not “put out [his] hand against the Lord’s anointed.”
Again, these statements are cited as proof that leaders may not be questioned. But that is not what the text is about. This is about killing a king, not questioning a pastor. David is refusing to murder the king Israel or seize the throne by force.
Nothing in 1 Samuel suggests that Saul is beyond correction. On the contrary, the book repeatedly shows Saul being confronted and condemned for disobedience. In 1 Samuel 13, Samuel openly rebukes Saul—who is still the Lord’s anointed—for unlawful sacrifice and rejection of God’s word. This rebuke is presented not as rebellion, but as obedience.
Even more strikingly, Saul remains “the Lord’s anointed” even after God has rejected him as king (1 Sam. 15). This alone proves that anointing does not equal approval. The narrative clearly distinguishes anointing from obedience, office from faithfulness, and authority from legitimacy.
David honors the office and refuses to take power by violence, but he doesn’t affirm Saul’s poor leadership decisions or shield him from accountability. Respect for authority does not mean immunity from truth.
The Biblical Pattern: Leaders Are Accountable
When we consider the whole of Scripture, the doctrine of leader immunity simply does not exist. From beginning to end, those who claim to speak for God are expected to be tested, examined, and—when necessary—rebuked.
Old Testament prophets routinely confronted kings and leaders who were anointed by God. Nathan rebuked David after his adultery and murder. Elijah confronted Ahab repeatedly. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, and Micah all denounced leaders who abused power or spoke falsely in God’s name. None were accused of “touching the Lord’s anointed.” They were praised for their faithfulness.
The New Testament continues this pattern. Jesus repeatedly confronted religious leaders who held legitimate authority, publicly rebuking their hypocrisy and misuse of power. Paul publicly rebuked Peter when he acted contrary to the gospel (Gal. 2). This confrontation is presented not as insubordination, but as necessary faithfulness.
The epistles are explicit. Elders are to be tested, their teaching evaluated, and their character examined. When an elder persists in sin, Paul commands public rebuke (1 Tim. 5:19–20). Prophetic claims are to be tested (1 Thess. 5:21; 1 John 4:1). The Bereans are praised for examining even apostolic teaching, testing it by the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).
If the apostles themselves welcomed scrutiny, no modern pastor or prophet can claim exemption.
Why “Leader Immunity” Is So Spiritually Destructive
The false doctrine of leader immunity is not merely a mistake; it is spiritually devastating. It distorts authority, corrupts conscience, and creates ideal conditions for abuse.
When leaders teach that questioning them is equivalent to rebelling against God, they form congregations incapable of discernment—Christians who do not read Scripture for themselves and who suppress moral alarm, believing it to be spiritual disobedience. Over time, this erodes the ability to distinguish truth from error.
Most tragically, this doctrine drives sincere believers out of the church and often out of the faith. When pastors claim divine authority while teaching lies or fabricating prophecies, and then insist God forbids questioning them, many conclude that God Himself must be complicit.
During my time as a pastoral counselor, I met multiple individuals who had left Christ after their pastors proclaimed false teachings or failed prophecies and then warned them not to “touch the Lord’s anointed.” Some left a congregation; many left Christianity altogether.
The Truth That Sets People Free
The Bible does not teach leader immunity. On the contrary, it teaches accountability. Leaders are stewards, not sovereigns. To question a leader is not to “touch the Lord’s anointed.” Often, it is obedience. In fact, discernment is a gift of the Spirit, to be used for the building up of the church. It does not undermine faith; it protects and preserves it.
God never asks us to suspend our conscience, ignore Scripture, or submit to abuse. The freedom Christ offers includes freedom from fear-based control and counterfeit authority.
Truth does not fear examination, and the God of Scripture does not demand blind allegiance to those who misuse His name. He has given us His Word and His Spirit. May we use both faithfully.
