John 8: 39-47, Abraham's Children

The Pharisees has challenged Jesus to identify his father. Jesus responds by saying that they have never known him or his father, else they would act differently.

John 8: 39-47, Abraham's children
“Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. 
40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 
41 You are doing the works of your own father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 
43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 
44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 
45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 
46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 
47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

The Pharisees fall back on their religious elitism -- Abraham our father!
Not really, says Jesus, for you do not follow God as Abraham did.  You have a different father!
"We are not illegitimate!" shout the Pharisees (emphasis on "We", suggesting maybe that Jesus is.)
Jesus responds, as before, that if they were really following God, they would recognize Him. Instead they follow the author of lies, the original murderer.

In verse 39 (according to the NIV footnotes) some early manuscripts have a slightly different wording.  Instead of  the sentence which begins "If you were Abraham's children, then you would do ... " we have "If you are Abraham's children, then do...."  The subtle difference here is that Jesus might not be accusing the Jews of abandoning Abraham but instead be encouraging them to follow Abraham's model.  This subtle change in the mood of the verbs occurs in other places in John. The NIV footnotes from time to time allow a slightly different interpretation, in which "You should have done X" could be replaced by "You should be doing X."

The leaders' response, "We are not illegitimate children" may emphasize the first word, hinting that although they are legitimate, Jesus, born to a woman pregnant before her marriage, is not. Jesus insists that paternity is important, but he is speaking of a spiritual paternity -- one can be a child of God, or one can be a child of Satan.