For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Ben Zickefoose
To add an additional thought to Michael Houdmann's answer above:
Jesus taught with parables to keep secrets of the kingdom of God from certain people.
Luke 8:9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,
“‘though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.’ NIV
See also: Matthew 13:13 and Mark 4:13.
Frederic A Parker
In matters of sin there is NO presumption of privacy or confidentiality, in spite of what some professions and churches teach. It seems that expecting someone to keep my sin confidential may be another sin. Please notice the entire paragraph quoted below.
Matthew 18:15-20
If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
Danny Hickman
I don't believe anything said in the answers or the comments sections addressed the reason for the question. At least in my estimation.
I think the person asking this about secrets is interested in whether keeping something personal about themselves, that might matter to someone close to them, is wrong. Such as the person might have something in their medical history that they don't feel comfortable disclosing. Or something else that can be concealed simply by never saying anything about it.
I don't think the stories of Esther or Samson and their "secrets" is anything close to what this person is asking about.
Samson wasn't told to never tell anyone the source of his extraordinary strength. It was a game to him...
I don't think King Ahasuerus cared that Esther was a Jew. I think he was concerned only about the beauty of the women in his harem. JMO.
I think this is about carrying something personal about yourself that makes you feel guilty, and at the same time, not wanting to bring harm to a relationship.
So, the question could be: 'am I wrong to not tell my husband / wife something about myself that might change their opinion of me?'
I agree with Mr Houdmann that the bible doesn't answer that. (at least that's what I think he said within his answer). I think that needs to be understood.
Should you tell it?
Do you think the person from whom you're keeping the secret would be better off knowing, or being kept from knowing?
That's the question.
Danny Hickman
I want to expand on my comments about Queen Esther.
The danger for Esther wasn't that she had misrepresented herself to King Ahasuerus; it was first that she needed to go before the king without being summoned, and then that a decree had been signed by the king that the Jews should be annihilated for, according to Haman, not keeping the king's laws.
Was she keeping her nationality a secret from her husband? Yes! It was a matter of personal safety, but only after Haman got the king to sign a murderous decree against the Jews. Of course, if it was known that the Queen was a Jew, Haman would have been afraid to go to the king with his plot.
I believe the One whose name or identity isn't mentioned anywhere in the whole story is the One who kept Esther's identity secret: God.
As for Samson, this guy sounds like a womanizer.
More important than what was the source of his strength, was that which was his greatest weakness! I think his weakness was a secret that he kept from himself!! He thought he understood the source of his strength. (he didn't) I don't think he gave any thought to his weakness. Now that was a deadly secret!
Samson's weakness was his lack of theological understanding. Who could be so misguided as to believe that their hair could give them incredible physical strength? His unshaved head was supposed to be a sign (reminder) that Jehovah was using him in his service. He forgot that before Delilah ever gave him a haircut, and that's no secret..