they simply do not want a go-to mensch guy who doesn't tow their party line to have the public's ear.
no, I doubt that Christians are delving deeply into stuff that was said to be unforgiving and seen as being . . . what was said, an indulgence.
try reading the proverbs, or maybe even the Sermon on the Mount (where most of what Jesus Christ discusses is presented in a suscint format)
but even better look to the behavior of Jesus Christ himself. The story of him drawing in the dirt and the crowd slinking off . . . that's the Jesus Christ that people need to know.
he's fearsome. He takes no excuses. But he's loving and forgiving, if you repent.
and as far as Leviticus, it's like a joke to quote that, it's known to be out of control and over the top fearful fetish behaviors mapped out to control the people with fear.