John 18:20, commentary and pictures

When questioned by the high priest about His teaching and His followers, Jesus declared that He had taught openly before the world in the crowded places of worship where the people always gathered, keeping back no hidden doctrine or purpose. He therefore called for lawful witnesses and pointed His examiners to those who had heard Him, refusing to be tried by secret questioning in an unjust examination where no fault could be proved against Him. His answer denied that He had privately organized His disciples as a secret party to establish a new kingdom, a confession His enemies hoped to force from Him to turn the Roman power against Him. It exposed the hypocrisy of rulers who had tracked Him for months with spies at every gathering and already knew His public words, yet seized Him in secret and sought to condemn Him by hidden and dishonest means where the people had no voice. His openness remains the pattern for all who carry forward God's work, leaving no room for concealment among brethren but calling them to speak plainly what they have received, to trust one another, and to unite in the clearest light they have.

Setting and Open Teaching

Jesus answered in this way when examined by Annas the high priest concerning His doctrine and His disciples, in an unjust examination in which no sin was proven against Him. His brief open defense searched the soul of Annas. The answer belongs to the account of His arrest and humiliation, at the time of Peter's denial before Peter's later repentance and renewed service.

He declared that He spoke openly to the world, ever teaching in public places where people gathered, in the synagogue and in the temple where the Jews always resort, and that in secret He said nothing. He kept no secret doctrine or purpose, and no part of His teaching was hidden. His constant public teaching proves that openness.

Instead of submitting to questioning in a hidden tribunal, He directed His questioners to ask those who had heard Him to testify to what He said, demanding witnesses. That demand rebuked the attempt to obtain through a hidden tribunal what could not be established by fair means. In this He denied the charge that He had secretly organized His followers or was forming a secret society to set up a new kingdom. His questioners hoped to draw such a statement from Him to awaken the fears of the Roman authorities against Him as one seeking to establish a secret society to finally set up a new kingdom. Throughout that interrogation and trial He answered with restraint, speaking no more than was essential and saying nothing that did not tend to glorify God.

Contrast and Application

His open teaching exposes by contrast the secrecy and hypocrisy of His accusers, who seized Him in secret and abused Him in secret while seeking to condemn Him by a hidden tribunal where the people had no voice. He points them to those who heard Him, rebuking their attempt to question Him in secret and to obtain by perjury and unfair means what could not be established by fair means. His answer denies that He had secretly organized His followers or concealed plans for a new kingdom, the statement they hoped to draw from Him to awaken the fears of the Roman authorities against Him as forming a secret society. His pointed words search the soul of the examiner.
The rebuke cuts because priests and rulers had set spies to watch His movements, to be present at every gathering of the people, and to report and carry to them all His sayings and doings. They had hunted Him for months striving to entrap Him, so His teaching and actions at public gatherings were already known to them and they could have questioned those who heard Him about what He said. His demand for witnesses therefore confronts men who already knew His constant public teaching in the synagogue and temple where the Jews always resort.

His claim to have spoken openly stands against a mock trial carried on with only a pretense of legal process in great secrecy. That secrecy was kept lest the people obtain information of what was being done and come forward with testimony vindicating Him by bringing to light the mighty works He had done. The leaders feared this would bring the indignation of the people upon the Sanhedrin, condemn and bring to naught their acts, liberate Him, and give Him new honor at the hands of the people. His open answer without fear contrasts with Peter's failure to witness for his Lord when trusting in himself, whereas after conversion Peter became a bold witness for Christ. His open teaching amid accusation and abuse reminds His followers that they too may endure evil speech and abuse for His name's sake.

His openness is the rule for all engaged in advancing God's work, for He did nothing in secret and all His work was open. He spoke only the words He heard from His Father and did nothing of Himself, doing only what He saw the Father do. That leaves no place for secretiveness and concealment among brethren, which God hates. Workers are to be respectful to one another, show confidence and unselfishness, and unite together laying open the best light they have, while reserve when dealing with unbelievers is another matter.