This passage is not found in the oldest Greek manuscripts of John's gospel but it is accepted as an authentic gospel tradition. The style and Greek show many differences from that of John's gospel; the author cannot be identified. The incident may be understood as providing practical illustration of the teaching of Jesus in 7:24. The Law (Deuteronomy 22 :22 and Leviticus 20: 10) commanded death for both the man and woman found guilty of adultery but in this incident all the blame is put on the woman, the man not being mentioned. Her accusers did not want justice for the woman but were trying to trap Jesus in a way similar to that shown in Mark 12:13-17. The self-righteousness of the accusers could not be maintained in the face of Jesus' challenge to their own sinfulness (8:7). Jesus, who condemned the sin not the sinner, released her, telling her not to sin again.