Matthew 1 teaches children that Jesus came from a long family line of God’s people, and that God kept His promise to be with us through Him. This lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God keeps every promise He makes, and Jesus is God with us. God never forgets His people, even when the story gets long and hard.
Memory Verse
Matthew 1:23
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel”; which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”
(WEB)
Stand tall with your arms stretched wide, then cup your hands over your heart as you say “God with us.” Do this together three times so the words and the motion stick.
The Story: Matthew 1 for Kids
Matthew starts his book with a very long list of names. It goes all the way from Abraham to a man named Joseph. Each name is a father, and each father had a son who came after him. God was working through every single one of these families to bring His promise to the world.
Some of the names in the list are surprising. Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth were women who were not always treated fairly, yet God used them in His plan. Children, remind them that God does not overlook anyone. He sees every family and every person.
Then the story turns to a young woman named Mary, who was going to marry a kind man named Joseph. Before they lived together, Mary was going to have a baby, and it was God’s special work, not something she had planned. Joseph was worried and did not know what to do. He wanted to be gentle and quiet about it.
While Joseph was sleeping, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” The angel told Joseph that the baby would be named Jesus, because He would save His people from their sins. Joseph woke up and did exactly what the angel told him to do.
The chapter ends with Joseph naming the baby Jesus. This is the Jesus we learn about all through the Bible. His name means that God saves, and the story tells us He is God with us.
Read It Together
Matthew 1:1
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
(WEB)
Point out that this is the start of a book about Jesus. Ask the children to listen for the word “son” and say that Jesus is the Son of David and the Son of Abraham.
Matthew 1:20-21
20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
(WEB)
Show the children where the angel speaks to Joseph in a dream. Point out the two things the angel says: don’t be afraid, and the baby will save His people.
Matthew 1:25
And didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
(WEB)
Explain that Joseph named the baby Jesus, just as God told him. Remind the children that when we do what God asks, we are following Joseph’s example.
Talk About It
- Why do you think God chose to put so many family names in the story of Jesus?
- How do you think Joseph felt when the angel came to him in his dream?
- What does it mean that Jesus is “God with us”?
- What is one thing you can do this week to trust God like Joseph did?
- Why is it good to know that God keeps His promises?
Activity Ideas
Family Tree Drawing
You will need paper, pencils, and crayons. Have each child draw a simple tree with a few branches and write the names of family members on the branches. Explain that Matthew’s list works the same way, with one name leading to the next. Let children add the name Jesus at the end of their tree to show that He came from a long line of people.
Angel Dream Freeze
Choose one child to be Joseph and lie down on a blanket as if sleeping. Another child plays the angel and gently taps Joseph on the shoulder. When Joseph wakes, everyone freezes in a pose showing “God with us.” This game helps children picture the moment and move their bodies with the story.
Take-Home Promise Card
Give each child an index card and a marker. Ask them to write “God with us” on one side and draw a small heart on the other. Encourage them to keep the card on their nightstand or in a school bag. Each time they see it during the week, they can say the memory verse or talk with a family member about God’s promises.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Matthew 1 shows that God’s promises move through ordinary families, including people who were overlooked or treated badly. The genealogy points forward to Jesus, who is called Christ and who fulfills the old promises. The chapter also shows Joseph’s faith in obeying God’s word even when he did not understand all of it.
Avoid overstating the details of the birth or the exact meaning of every name in the list when you speak to children. Keep the focus on the simple truths: God keeps His promises, Jesus is God with us, and Joseph trusted and obeyed. Let the children ask questions and be comfortable saying you can find out more together.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Lord, thank You for keeping every promise You make. Thank You for sending Jesus, who is God with us. Help us trust You like Joseph did and do what You ask of us. Be with us this week and every day. Amen.
