Like a fire fighter? I think you're stretching analogy beyond any semblance of reality now. That is, making stuff up (note my starting with a firm rebuke ;) )

Mind you, a good fire fighter would yell 'WAKE UP' or even 'FIRE' to get people awake, not yell abuse.
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First he had to get their attention and do what he could to get them to realize that they had a problem; ergo the firm rebuke

And choose to use offensive words to gain thier attention instead of other possible ways. And Matthew thought those words & tone worth recording into the holy books.
I mean, I know how well I learn when the teacher starts with abuse. :rolleyes
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Were the Pharisees and Sadducees literally vipers? No, not literally

Was that the question?
No.
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Johns statement wasn't tactful, but it was truthful.

Why was it truthful? Only if you beleive in those books and the idea of humans being inevitably sinners.
But you agree it wasn't tactful, and therefore I assume rude? Intolerant? Offensive?
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"The irony of the Information Age is that it has given new respectability to uninformed opinion."
--John Lawton