Welllllllllllllllllllllllll then, maybe Michael will respond. The interpretation is meant to show that the Messiah did "keep the literal command" in a way. To carry out the death penalty, the literal commands require a legal process and standard to be met, which they were not in this case. In this sense, the Messiah acted as a good defense lawyer, no different than how defense lawyers act in courts in the United States today. None of them are breaking or dismissing the U.S. law, they're in fact upholding it by rigorously cross-examining witnesses, reviewing evidence, etc. in order to provide a fair trial. Likewise, the Messiah did not simply break or dismiss God's law, He disqualified the witnesses and, thus, the woman was free to go, as the Law stipulates. But it's important to note He says, "Go and sin no more," not, "Here's your free pass, go and do what you like."
When reading the bible, we have to remember that the bottom line for those who love God is His, love, mercy and compassion to them. That underlines everything. You cannot just take the literal word and fixate on that, unless you understand what everything hinges on for a believer.
King David committed adultery and was responsible for Uriah's death. Was he killed for that? No, he was forgiven, though he paid a price for his actions. David had been a man after God's own heart, he had steadfastly followed God, he was loved of God, therefore he was forgiven.
God will show mercy on whom he will show mercy. According to Christ, the higher points of the law are,
mercy, justice, faithfulness. The literal letter of commandments has to be read with that in mind. We must never stop knowing God wants to show such love, mercy and compassion to people.
How many of us would be cast into hell for failing to obey the literal letter perfectly? All of us. King David's bottom line was not in a righteousness of obedience to the law, for he said no one living was righteous before God. His bottom line was God's unfailing love, and that is our bottom line also.
The literal letter does not allow for that, for it is ''Thou shalt not'' The law is inflexible, it holds to a standard no one has ever met. There is no pass mark of acceptability to it to be saved. It is the heart that makes you right with God, not the literal letter of obedience, for we all fail where that letter is concerned.
The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life, and God's love, mercy and compassion is ultimately what saves those who come to Him.
And God has the right to forgive the sinner and show love, mercy and compassion to them also, therefore Christ had the right to forgive the woman caught in adultery.