Inquiry:
Did Jesus have secret teachings? Matthew 13:10-11 says He did, but John 18:20 says that He didn’t. Is there a contradiction?
Response:
Merriam-Webster defines a secret as:
1 a : kept from knowledge or view : hidden
b : marked by the habit of discretion : close-mouthed
c : working with hidden aims or methods : undercover
d : not acknowledged : unavowed
e : conducted in secret
2 : remote from human frequentation or notice : secluded
3 : revealed only to the initiated : esoteric
4 : designed to elude observation or detection
5 : containing information whose unauthorized disclosure could endanger national security
In what way does Matthew 13:10-11 indicate that the Lord had secret teachings? His teachings had nothing to do with national security (5). Since He always had crowds of people around Him (1a, 1d, 2) and spoke openly in their synagogues, we can conclude that He did not try to elude detection (1b, 4) or speak just to a few (1e, 3). Jesus made His purpose clear (1c), He came into the world to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37).
How then can Jesus be charged with having secret teachings? It is not that His teachings were secretive, but that many who heard Him speak had little spiritual understanding (John 3:3-4, 9-10; 4:7-10, 15; etc.).
He often spoke in parables. Parables are earthly stories that have a spiritual meaning in them. The Lord used images which the people were familiar with – sowing seed, fishing, harvesting, etc.. I have heard children explain Jesus’ parables. They are not secret. Paul explains it this way:
…the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
There is no contradiction.
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