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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
What then saith Christ? To overthrow this, He saith, "I spake openly to the world, (not to the disciples privately,) I taught openly in the temple." "What then, said He nothing in secret?" He did, but not, as they thought, from fear, and to make conspiracies, but if at any time His sayings were too high for the hearing of the many.
Cyril of Alexandria
It were fruitless labour, Christ says, to search out as obscure what is universally known; and how can it be seemly, where full knowledge is present, to set up a pretence of ignorance? This is what Christ seems to us to say, with the object of releasing Himself from the charges that had been fabricated and maliciously devised against Him by the malice of the leaders of the people. But I think, also, that there is a suggestion of another meaning. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
What then does the Lord do? He responds to his suspicions. "I," He says, "have said nothing in secret." You suspect Me of being some kind of rebel, secretly forming some conspiracies; but I tell you that in secret I have said nothing, that is, nothing seditious, and as you suppose, I introduce nothing new, and with cunning and secret intent I have said nothing of My own. If we understand these words of the Lord not in accordance with the suspicion of the high priest, then He will appear to be speaking a lie. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
"The high priest then asked Jesus of His disciples, and of His doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I always taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither all the Jews resort, and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? …
Thomas Aquinas
2313 Now our Lord's answer is given: first, we see his manner of teaching; secondly, he asks for the testimony of others (v 21). Two things are done about the first: we see how Christ taught his doctrine; secondly, this is further described. 2314 He says, I have spoken openly to the world. This seems to conflict with "The hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures but tell you plainly of the Father" (16:25). So, if he had not yet spoken openly to his disciples, how could he have spoken openly to the world? …
Bonaventure
"Jesus answered him:" Here the second point is set forth, namely the response of Christ, in which the Lord refutes the intention of the high priest. For he held the teaching of Christ suspect, and therefore wished to examine him about it: for this reason the Lord shows that his teaching was not suspect, because it was not hidden, but public. …
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