This episode involves several mistakes--ignorance of the seasons; destruction of a profitable food-producing tree; exhibition of temper when thwarted, and giving false information regarding man's power to effect physical changes by a curse.[3] 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. _Forgiveness_ 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. _Vituperation_ 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] "Woe unto you, hypocrites, for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him two-fold more the child of hell than yourselves."[8] "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"[9] "If I should say I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you."[10] "All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers."[11] "Ye fools and blind."[12] This language may have been necessary, in Jesus' opinion, to convince his hearers of their sins, but such vituperation does not become a modern ethical teacher. _Destruction of Property_ Two acts of Jesus, consistent with his disregard of worldly goods, were destructive in character. "And there was a good way off from them a herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters."[13] Jesus did what the devils requested, cruelly killing two thousand inoffensive valuable animals that belonged to other people. "Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables."