I'm not sure how I contradicted the quote from Matthew--He didn't speak to His Apostles in parables, as they had been "given the knowledge." The people to whom Christ was speaking (and those whom He was exhorting to follow Him) didn't have that knowledge, and He therefore had to give it to them in a way that they'd understand--thus the parables. Forget not a few verses later:
34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
It was the teaching style of the day--Jesus wasn't the first, or the last, to use that style. It was also easier to understand the meaning of an ideal when you can apply it to a specific situation--which Jesus did in telling parables.
I do understand, however, that Jesus told them parables specifically to avoid telling them the "secrets." This is something I dont' quite understand (my own failing, obviously), but the way it seems is that without the parables, they would hear the message and it would be black-and-white, without option, which would "harden hearts;" with parables, it is the truth, just not in a in-your-face way, and people are more likely to identify with each story.
Yes...He clearly spoke to His disciples (not "apostles" yet...they had not yet seen the risen Christ) in parables and then explained the meaning to them. Look at the parable of the sower, which was specifically adressed to the disciples in Matt. 13.
In Matthew 13, we can find the two reasons for Jesus's speaking in parables:
1. To fulfill Messianic prophecy (as pointed out in Matt. 13:34&35). A proof that He was the Christ.
2. To not reveal the truth (or they might otherwise turn) to those who refused to hear and see and had callous hearts.
The contradiction came as a result of your contention that Jesus taught in parables, as it was the teaching style of the day, to make His message more understandable. Clearly, this is not the reason Jesus gave for His use of parables. And clearly, the parables did not make things more understandable as He had to explain to His disciples their meaning.
Eventhough it is a hard truth, do we take Jesus at His word in regard to the reason for His teaching in parables (even when it is in opposition to what is commonly taught about the issue today)?
There are parallels to the evolution issue in this as well. And it comes down to whether or not we accept God's Word as Truth on all matters it teaches...like parables and creation.
God's Word says that He created in six literal days...These are six literal days as evidenced by the reference to morning and evening, Exodous 20:11, and also by Adam's age at death (930+ years...Adam was created on the sixth day and died at 930 years of age. His age is incorrect if Day six was a large period of time).
Do we believe God at His Word or not?