There are critics that say Jesus contradicted himself when he declared that he said nothing in secret in John 18:20 while he seems to keep some of his teachings private for his disciples only. Let’s look at the scriptures in question.
(John 18:20) Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.”
(Mark 4:34) But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.
(Matthew 13:10-11) And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”
The context here is misunderstood. The verse in the Gospel of Saint John simply states that Jesus had preached in front of the synagogues, in the temple and to everyone. It is not about secret teachings. In Matthew and Mark, Jesus demonstrated the teachings through parables from the environment at that time to make it easier for the people to understand and grasp. The parable is a story given in order to clarify, emphasize or illustrate a teaching, not a teaching within itself.
In Rabbinical literature there are approximately 4000 parables recorded. It was thought by Rabbis to be good practice to divide their instruction of the people into three parts, the latter third typically being parables representative to the first two thirds. Jesus carries on in this tradition with just over one third of his recorded instruction being in the form of parables. He drew upon a wealth of images that the Israelis of his day knew, using common motifs such as plants, animals etc. Therefore, the point of each of Jesus’ parables was clear to all the listeners, which can be seen from the Gospels too. Parables were so rich and so subtle that not only could they drive home a clear and simple point to the ordinary listener, but the scholars could turn them over and over in their mind, deriving greater and greater meaning from them.
So, Jesus often expanded on the meaning of a parable to his disciples, his close students, in response to their inquiry or to instruct them further. Therefore, parables were not secret teachings. Jesus went around to teach and instruct people. So, when he was asked while on trial in court (John 18:20) about his teaching, he says something to the words of “I taught publicly – everyone heard my words. You know I taught. I did not teach in secret.” He was right.
The verse according to the Gospel of Saint Mark simply means that Jesus explained even more to his disciples not only using parables through his discipleship to the disciples. Hence, there is no contradiction, it is just misunderstanding the verse without the context.
