If Jesus acted unwisely in this one instance and was right in all others, he is neither an infallible God nor a perfect pattern for mankind.
The conventional Jesus is emblematic of supreme kindness and forgiveness, but in reality he was far from lenient in many instances, nor did he advocate forgiveness for certain offenses.
"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee ... tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican."[4]
In the parable of Dives and Lazarus, Abraham was represented as justified in not forgiving the rich man tortured in hell, or even in saving the rich man's brothers as requested by the victim of Jesus' policy of punishment.
Again Jesus said: "Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father."[5] "Whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness."[6]
All the wicked were condemned by Jesus to eternal punishment with no chance of forgiveness.
Jesus was often vehement in his language to an extent hardly compatible with gentleness of character.
"O generation of vipers! how can ye, being evil, speak good things?"[7]