What was the story going around Nazareth about Jesus' birth?
The circulating story was that Mary and Joseph had conceived out of wedlock, and that Joseph may not even have been the father. Nazareth rumor held Jesus' birth resulted from fornication, an immoral act, because they rejected the virgin birth.
Les explains that the people confronting Jesus did not believe in His virgin birth. The story going through Nazareth was that Mary and Joseph, even if Joseph was the father, had conceived out of wedlock. Les imagines the story was already going around that Joseph was not even the father. So they were throwing at Jesus that He was the result of fornication, an immoral act. Les emphasizes how low these people were.
Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
More Questions
Did the Pharisees believe in the virgin birth of Jesus?
Les explains that the Pharisees' statement 'We be not born of fornication' was a direct denial of Jesus' virgin birth. The story circulating in Nazareth was that Mary and Joseph, even if Joseph was the father, had conceived out of wedlock. Some even said Joseph wasn't the father. So they were accusing Jesus of being the result of fornication, an immoral act. Jesus responded that if God were their Father, they would love Him, for He proceeded forth and came from God. Les notes how low these people were.