The Bible has a lot to say about secrets and keeping confidences. Here is an overview of some of the key Bible passages that deal with this topic:
Proverbs 11:13 – The importance of keeping confidences
“Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.”
This proverb emphasizes the importance of keeping confidences and not betraying secrets that have been shared in trust. Those who gossip and slander others cannot be trusted to keep secrets, but the trustworthy person “keeps a thing covered.”
Proverbs 20:19 – Guard your words
“Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.”
Again, the book of Proverbs warns about guarding your words carefully. Revealing secrets and engaging in slander separates close friends. Being careful and discrete with what you say is wise.
Proverbs 25:9-10 – Keep confidences private
“Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret, lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end.”
Going directly to someone with an issue is better than talking behind their back. Spreading secrets will lead to a bad reputation that is hard to shake.
Matthew 6:1-4 – Give to the needy in secret
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Jesus taught that we should not parade our righteous acts before others. When giving to the poor, it should be done humbly and secretly rather than for show and praise.
Matthew 18:15-17 – Address issues privately at first
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.”
Jesus gave instructions for dealing with conflict within the church. Go to the person privately first rather than immediately spreading the issue to others.
1 Timothy 5:24-25 – Some sins remain hidden
“The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.”
Paul noted that some sins remain secret and hidden for a time, only to be revealed later. Other good deeds also may be done in secret but cannot stay hidden forever.
Proverbs 25:2 – Value of concealing matters
“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.”
There are reasons and value in keeping some matters concealed at times. But kings have the authority to uncover hidden things.
Psalm 90:8 – Secret sins illuminated
“You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.”
God sees and knows even the most secret sins hidden from others. His light illuminates the darkest places.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 – Judgment for secret sins
“For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
In the end, there is nothing concealed from God’s judgment. There will be an accounting for secret sins as well as public ones.
Proverbs 27:5-6 – Value of honest wounds from a friend
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”
While secrets can protect, there is also value in open and honest dialogue. True friends offer loving feedback, not just flattery.
Psalm 139:1-4 – God knows our secret thoughts
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.”
God intimately knows everything about us – even the hidden corners of our minds that no one else sees. We cannot hide anything from Him.
Matthew 10:26-27 – What is hidden will be revealed
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”
Jesus taught that everything secret will eventually come to light. His followers should not be afraid to proclaim the gospel openly.
Luke 12:2-3 – Whispered hypocrisy exposed
“Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.”
Again, Jesus emphasized that whispered hypocrisy done in secret will be fully exposed in time. We cannot hide unrighteousness forever.
Ephesians 5:11-13 – Expose the fruitless deeds of darkness
“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.”
Followers of Christ should help expose shameful acts done in secret, bringing them into the light through the power of God’s truth.
Luke 8:17 – Nothing hidden that won’t be known
“For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”
Jesus emphasized again that everything done and spoken in secret will eventually come out into the open and be known.
Mark 4:22 – Secrets will be disclosed
“For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.”
Mark also recorded Jesus teaching that everything hidden will be brought into the light and made visible to all.
Genesis 37:5-11 – Joseph’s brothers conspire against him
Joseph had dreams that his brothers and parents would bow down to him one day. His brothers were jealous and conspired in secret against him: “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits.” They hid their true feelings and motivation in order to deceive Joseph.
2 Kings 6:8-12 – Elisha exposes the King’s secrets
The king of Syria tried to secretly set ambushes against Elisha, but Elisha kept warning the king of Israel about the plans. The Syrian king realized there was a traitor revealing his plans to Elisha and became enraged.
Genesis 3:1-13 – Hiding from God after the Fall
After Adam and Eve sinned, they tried to hide from God’s presence among the trees. Their nakedness and guilt were exposed before God, and they shifted blame in secret ways, bringing disruption to human relationships ever since.
Joshua 2:1-7 – Protecting the Hebrew spies
Rahab hid the spies Joshua sent to Jericho on her roof and did not disclose their mission to the king’s men who came looking for them. She prioritized protecting their lives over revealing their secrets.
Judges 16:4-22 – Samson and Delilah
Though Samson kept the secret of his strength safe from Delilah at first, eventually he gave in and told her his hair had never been cut. She exposed his secret to the Philistines who captured him. Samson paid a high price for betraying confidences to the wrong person.
2 Samuel 12:1-14 – David’s hidden sin exposed
David tried to keep his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah secret. But the prophet Nathan confronted him, exposing his sins using a fictional story. David repented, but still faced consequences.
Proverbs 6:16-19 – Things God hates
God hates those who sow discord and reveal secrets among brothers. Betraying trust creates division and damages relationships in the family of God.
Matthew 26:69-75 – Peter denies knowing Jesus
After Jesus was arrested, Peter was afraid and denied knowing him 3 times to escape possible persecution. Keeping his relationship with Jesus secret led Peter to disown his Lord publicly.
Mark 14:66-72 – Rooster crows after Peter’s denial
Peter followed Jesus at a distance into the high priest’s courtyard and warmed himself by the fire. When questioned if he knew Jesus, Peter denied it. Immediately a rooster crowed just as Jesus had predicted, exposing Peter’s deception.
John 3:16-21 – Light has come into the world
Jesus is the light that has dawned, revealing the evil hidden in darkness. Those who love truth more than secrecy come to the light of Christ. But those who do evil run from the light and try to remain hidden.
John 7:3-10 – Even family misunderstood Jesus
When Jesus’ brothers challenged him to reveal himself publicly in Judea, John notes “even his own brothers did not believe in him.” At times, even our closest family cannot see who we really are deep inside.
John 13:21-30 – Jesus exposes his betrayer
At the Last Supper, Jesus revealed that one of his disciples would betray him. When he gave bread to Judas, saying “Do quickly what you are going to do,” the others did not understand Jesus was exposing Judas’ hidden plot.
Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias and Sapphira’s deception
This couple sold property and brought part of the money to the apostles, while secretly keeping back some of the proceeds. Peter confronted them about lying to God and keeping back for themselves what they pretended to give to others.
Acts 8:9-25 – Simon the sorcerer’s hypocrisy
Simon had amazed people with his magic arts, but was exposed as a fraud when he saw the real power of God in Philip’s ministry. He tried to pay money to obtain the same spiritual power and authority.
Galatians 2:11-14 – Peter’s hypocrisy
Peter had been eating with Gentile believers, but when legalistic Jews arrived he secretly withdrew from table fellowship to avoid their criticism. Paul called him out publicly for this hypocritical discrimination.
In conclusion, the Bible teaches that while there is value in keeping some matters private and confidential, ultimately nothing is hidden from the sight of God. He knows our secret thoughts and motives. And though we may try to conceal sin for a time, what is done in darkness will eventually be exposed by God’s light. This is both a warning and a reassurance – we cannot hide unrighteousness forever, but we also cannot escape the notice of a God who sees all and desires to forgive those who turn to Him. Jesus frees us from fear of exposure and grants us grace to walk transparently in wisdom and truth.