Would one of you, such as Rev. McDonald, please explain why the following is
not a contradiction in the Bible: In Matthew 21:19 Jesus cursed the fig tree
AFTER having cleansed the Temple. In Mark 11:14 he cursed it BEFORE cleansing
the Temple. So my question is, is this not a contradiction?
IZZ
Ah, gee, Izz, I can explain this one to you. Matthew wrote topically
instead of chronologically, and so the fact that he related the cursing of
the fig tree before the cleansing of the temple doesn't mean he was saying
that the cursing of the tree happened before the cleansing of the temple.
Confusing, you say? Well, for pity's sake, Izz, who said that God had to
inspire coherent writing? By putting problems like this into his word, he
challenged us to dig deeper into it and discover more of his truths.
Purposeful vagueness like this on God's part also enables him to test us and
separate the good and honest hearts from the evil ones.
Farrell Till
Skepticism, Inc.
jftill@midwest.net