Did Jesus keep things secret from the twelve disciples?
Yes. The context states God kept things secret from the Twelve that they did not understand until He was ready to reveal it. In Luke 18, Jesus took the Twelve aside and spoke of what the prophets wrote about the Son of Man, yet the secret remained until God's timing.
Les explains that Deuteronomy 29:29 shows the secret things belong to the LORD, while the revealed things belong to us and our children. God has the prerogative to keep things secret and does not have to reveal them until He is good and ready. This is basic to understanding the Word: He does not reveal everything all the way up, but reveals it at the right time. Les then points to Luke 18:31, where Jesus took the Twelve at the end of His earthly ministry, shortly before they go up to Jerusalem, and said all things written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man would be accomplished. The context indicates God kept things secret from the Twelve that they did not understand until He was ready to reveal it.
Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
More Questions
Why did the twelve disciples fail to understand Jesus when He plainly predicted His death and resurrection?
The twelve did not understand Jesus' prophecy because God had not yet revealed it to them, not because they were unwilling to listen.