This lesson teaches children that God gave His people special days to remember Him, rest, and celebrate what He has done. It is designed for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach. Leviticus 23 is a long chapter of rules, so keep the focus on the joy behind the feasts rather than the details.
Big Idea
God gives His people special times to stop, remember Him, and thank Him for taking care of them. Every good day is a gift from Him, and He wants us to keep important days in His honor.
Memory Verse
Leviticus 23:2
“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘The set feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts.
(WEB)
Hold both hands up like the pages of a book and open them wide. Then say the words slowly, pointing to your heart on the word “my.” This helps children see that these are God’s own special days, set apart just for Him.
The Story: Leviticus 23 for Kids
God spoke to Moses and gave him a message for the children of Israel. God said, “Tell my people about my set feasts. These are special days, holy days for coming together.” Moses listened carefully, because he knew these were words from God Himself. The people were getting ready to live in a new land, and God wanted them to remember Him there.
First, God gave them a weekly day of rest. Six days they could work, but the seventh day was a Sabbath, a day to stop and rest. Nobody was to do regular work on that day. God said it was a day for Him, and that they should rest in all of their homes. Rest was not a waste of time. It was a gift from God.
Next, God gave them a spring feast called the Passover. On the fourteenth day of the first month, the people were to remember how God had rescued them from slavery in Egypt. Then came the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which lasted seven days. The people ate bread without yeast to remember that they left Egypt in a hurry. Families gathered and thought about God’s power and kindness.
God also told them about the harvest. When they reached the land and gathered their crops, they were to bring the first sheaf of grain to the priest. The priest lifted it up before the LORD as a thank-you gift. Then they counted seven weeks, fifty days in all, and brought new bread to God. This was the Feast of Weeks, a happy day to thank God for the harvest.
God even taught them to share their harvest. He said, “When you reap your fields, do not cut every corner. Leave some grain for the poor and for the stranger.” God cared about people who had little, and He wanted His people to care for them too. Then God reminded them, “I am the LORD your God.”
In the seventh month, God gave the people more feasts. There was a day of trumpets, a day of deep sorrow for sin called the Day of Atonement, and then a happy harvest festival called the Feast of Tents. For that feast, families built small shelters out of branches and lived in them for a week. They were remembering how God took care of their ancestors in the wilderness, and how He is still with them today.
Read It Together
Leviticus 23:3
“‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no kind of work. It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings.
(WEB)
Point out that God gave the people a day to rest every single week. Ask the children what they like to do on a rest day, and then explain that God wanted His people to slow down and remember Him too.
Leviticus 23:22
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not wholly reap into the corners of your field, and you must not gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor, and for the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.’”
(WEB)
Show the children how God asked the farmers to leave some of the harvest for poor people and visitors. Explain that God cares for people who need help, and that we can share what we have with others too.
Leviticus 23:42-43
42 You shall dwell in temporary shelters for seven days. All who are native-born in Israel shall dwell in temporary shelters, 43 that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in temporary shelters, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’”
(WEB)
Point out that the families lived in temporary shelters so they would remember how God cared for their ancestors. Tell the children that God takes care of His people in every season, and that we can remember His faithfulness just like they did.
Talk About It
- What is your favorite day of the week, and what makes it special to you?
- Why do you think God wanted His people to rest on the seventh day?
- How did the Passover help the people remember what God had done for them?
- Why did God ask the farmers to leave some of their harvest for people who were poor?
- What is one way your family can remember and thank God for His kindness this week?
Activity Ideas
Make a Feast Calendar
You will need construction paper, crayons or markers, and scissors. Help each child draw a simple picture for one feast, such as a loaf of bread, a branch shelter, or a trumpet. Glue the pictures onto a long strip of paper in order from first to last. Talk about what each picture reminds them of as you add it.
Harvest Sharing Game
You will need a bag of dried beans or small snacks and a few paper bowls. Scatter the beans across a table or the floor and have children gather them into their bowls, leaving a few behind for a “poor” friend who sits quietly nearby. Then talk about how God wanted His people to leave some of their harvest for others, and let children practice sharing with one another.
Take-Home Rest Card
You will need index cards, a pencil, and a marker. Ask each child to write or draw one way their family can rest and thank God together during the week, such as a walk, a shared meal, or a quiet prayer time. Let them take the card home and place it on the refrigerator or by the dinner table as a reminder.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Leviticus 23 shows that God shaped the rhythm of Israel’s life around Himself. The weekly Sabbath, the annual feasts, and the harvest offerings all pointed to God as the source of rest, provision, and forgiveness. Many Christians see in these feasts a foreshadowing of Christ, who fulfilled the Passover and gave the Spirit at Pentecost, though children do not need that level of detail.
When teaching children, avoid overstating how each feast maps onto Jesus or the church. Children can easily assume every detail carries a hidden code, which can make the lesson feel confusing. Focus instead on the simple truths that God gives rest, remembers His people, and cares for the poor.
A Prayer to Close
Father, thank You for giving us days to rest and remember You. Help us to stop and be thankful for the good things You give us. Teach us to care for people who need help, just as You care for us. We love You, Lord. Amen.
