Click here to open Matthew 21 in a new tab, and click here to open Mark 11 in a new tab.

In Matthew and Mark, we are given the account of Jesus cursing the fig tree, which symbolizes the physical nation of Israel.

The "contradiction" is that Matthew mentions Jesus cursing the fig tree prior to mentioning Him cleansing the temple, whereas Mark says that Jesus cleansed the temple prior to cursing the fig tree.

Let's take a look at these chapters and see how to understand what's happening.

Topical Chapters

Note that both chapters are arranged topically - they both cover the events surrounding Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

A Definite Chronology

Using only what we can definitely tell chronologically, I've arranged the events in the order in which they took place:

• Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Mark 11:11, Matthew 21:9-10)
• Jesus enters the temple the first time (Mark 11:11)
• They return to Bethany for the night (Mark 11:11, Matthew 21:17)
• They leave Bethany the next morning (Mark 11:12, Matthew 21:18)
• Jesus curses the fig tree, it begins to quickly wither (Mark 11:13-14, Matthew 21:19)
• They return to Jerusalem (Mark 11:15, Matthew 21:19)
• Jesus cleanses the temple (Mark 11:15, Matthew 21:12-13)
• They leave the city again, seeing the now completely withered fig tree (Mark 11:20)

Mark 11 provides the chronological order, since he uses more chronological language on purpose to arrange the events sequentially.

Matthew on the other hand, fills in the details of the entire event in a more general way, putting everything out there with less attention to a defined chronology. That's why verses 12-13 are not in chronological order.

Matthew does this other times as well, giving us the story of when the angel rolled away the stone from Jesus's tomb (Matthew 28:2-4) after mentioning the women who went to visit Jesus's tomb.

We know from the other Gospel accounts that the stone was already rolled away by the time they got there (Mark 16:4, Luke 24:2, John 20:1), meaning that if you read that chapter as a strict chronology you might get confused. I cover that passage as well in an article here.

Conclusion

You cannot arbitrarily approach a book that you didn't write and demand or assume that the author must stick to strict chronological order. The chapter of Matthew 21 is, as already mentioned, arranged topically, not strictly chronologically.

When reading a Harmony of the Gospels, you will notice that Matthew is the least "strict" in keeping things in chronological order. That's why we have four Gospels. The account in Mark gives us the chronology, the account in Matthew gives us details that Mark doesn't, and we can deduce the exact chronology by comparing the two accounts.