I have read that so-called responsible Christians are saying that Matthew 25's "the least of these" refers only to down-and-out Christians. Defined by them of course.

Now to the "floating" pericope... the Law required that both people taken in flagrante were to die. So where's the dude? Demanding that the woman alone be executed would itself break the Law. If both had been dragged before Jesus, perhaps he would have said something like, "The measure you measure out to others shall be measured out to you..." (Mt. 7:2)

Finally, every government ruled by a religion becomes corrupt, and so does that religion. Plenty of contemporary examples... Iran comes to mind. The death of America and the death of American Christianity lie ahead if the "Christian" nationalists get their way.