This lesson teaches children that God wants His priests to be set apart and holy, and that God Himself makes His people holy. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes. Teachers can adapt the simple story and activities to fit the age group in the room.
Big Idea
God is holy, and He wants the people who serve Him to belong to Him in a special way. Holy means set apart for God, and God is the one who makes us holy.
Memory Verse
Leviticus 21:8
You shall sanctify him therefore; for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you; for I the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy.
(WEB)
Hold both hands up in front of your chest, then slowly lift them over your head as you say the verse together. This motion shows something lifted up and set apart for God, which helps children picture what holy means.
The Story: Leviticus 21 for Kids
God spoke to Moses one day and gave him a message for the priests. The priests were the sons of Aaron, and they had a very special job. They helped the people worship God and offered gifts to Him at the altar.
God told the priests that they had to be different from the people around them. Some things that were normal for others were not allowed for priests. For example, a priest was not to shave his head or cut his body in the ways some nearby people did when they mourned. God said, “They shall be holy to their God.”
God gave special rules about who a priest could marry. He had to choose a woman who was pure and had a good name among his own people. God reminded them, “I am the LORD, who makes you holy.” Children, remember that God does the making holy, and the priests were to live in a way that showed they belonged to Him.
Later, God said that a priest who had a physical problem could not step forward to offer the gifts at the altar. This was not because God loved that man less. God wanted the holy work done in a way that showed how perfect and holy He is. The priest could still eat the holy bread, but he could not go near the veil or the altar.
At the end of the chapter, Moses told Aaron and his sons and all the children of Israel everything God had said. The people learned that God is holy and that He calls His people to be holy too.
Read It Together
Leviticus 21:6
They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God; for they offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy.
(WEB)
Point out that the priests were to be holy to their God and not to dishonor His name. Ask children what they think it means to honor God’s name in the way they speak and act at home and school.
Leviticus 21:12
He shall not go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him. I am the LORD.
(WEB)
Show that God said “I am the LORD” to remind His people who was speaking and who was in charge. Explain that God’s rules flowed from who He is, not just from a list of do’s and don’ts.
Leviticus 21:23
He shall not come near to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a defect; that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’”
(WEB)
Point to the phrase that God is the one who sanctifies His people. Help children see that holiness is God’s gift and His work in their lives, not something they earn by themselves.
Talk About It
- What do you think it means for something to be set apart just for God?
- Why do you think God wanted His priests to look and live differently from others around them?
- What is one thing you could do this week to show that you belong to God?
- How does it make you feel to know that God is the one who makes His people holy?
- Where do you see God’s holiness shown in the world around you?
Activity Ideas
Holy Crown Drawing
Give each child a strip of paper, crayons or markers, and tape or a stapler. Have them write “Holy to the Lord” across the strip and decorate it with bright colors and simple shapes. Fit each strip around the child’s head like a crown and talk about how the priests wore a special crown of anointing oil to show they were set apart for God.
Set Apart Freeze Game
Clear a space in the room and have children move around like they are walking through a busy market. Call out “Set apart!” and everyone freezes with their arms raised high like they are offering something to God. Repeat several times, reminding children that setting apart means choosing God and standing ready to serve Him.
Holy Helper Bookmark Take-Home
Cut strips of cardstock or heavy paper and give each child one to take home. Ask them to draw one way they can be a helper for God this week, such as sharing a toy or telling the truth. Have them tape or punch a hole at the top and add a ribbon if you have one. Encourage them to use the bookmark in their Bible or a favorite book as a daily reminder.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Leviticus 21 shows that holiness in the Old Testament meant being distinct and dedicated to God, with the priests bearing special responsibility for representing Israel before Him. The chapter also points forward to the need for a perfect and holy mediator, which Christians see fulfilled in Jesus. Read the chapter with respect for its ancient setting and its focus on God’s character.
Avoid telling children that God rejects people with physical differences or disabilities, since the passage deals with a specific priestly role at the altar and not with the worth of anyone. Keep the focus on God’s holiness and His call to His people, and do not turn the lesson into a list of rules for children to measure themselves by.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for being holy and for setting us apart to belong to You. Help us to live in ways that show we are Yours, and make us holy as only You can. Thank You for loving us and helping us grow closer to You every day. Amen.
