So far as Jesus being “provocative”, was that not just exactly what He did in regards to the Pharisees? And the money changers at the temple?
The Biblical Pharisees were in all likelihood the same people who became the ancestors of the Farsi, or Iranians, today. They were not Muslims then (Islam still not being existence), but they were still contentious people, overly concerned with maintaining the absolute letter of the law.
Pretty reasonable example I’d say!
Being polite has its limits in war and peace. We really are at war, but we are refusing to show up. AWOL. We have to take a look at all those whom that AWOL vacuum advantages.