This lesson teaches children that Jesus is Lord over every day, including the Sabbath, and that doing good, especially helping people, is always right. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
Jesus is in charge of everything, and he wants us to do good and be kind to people every day, even on the day we rest.
Memory Verse
Matthew 12:12
Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.”
(WEB)
Teach children to stand tall, then stretch both arms wide as they say the verse together. Repeat it three times, getting a little quieter each time, so the words stay in their hearts.
The Story: Matthew 12 for Kids
One day Jesus walked through a field of grain with his friends on a Sabbath, the special day of rest God gave his people. His friends were hungry, so they picked some heads of grain and ate them. Some religious leaders called Pharisees saw this and got upset. They said the friends were breaking the rules of the day.
Jesus answered them kindly. He reminded them of King David, who once ate bread that was set aside for the priests because he and his friends were hungry. Jesus was showing that God cares about people’s needs. He also said that he himself is Lord of the Sabbath, which means he is in charge of it.
Later, Jesus went into a meeting place where people gathered to worship. A man there had a hand that did not work well. The Pharisees watched Jesus closely, hoping to catch him doing something wrong. Jesus asked them a simple question: if your sheep fell into a hole on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you help it out? Then he said, “A person is worth much more than a sheep!”
Jesus told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man did, and his hand became healed, just like his other hand. The Pharisees were angry, and they started making plans to hurt Jesus. Jesus knew this, so he went away from that place, and many people followed him and were healed.
Jesus also taught that our words and actions show what is in our hearts. A good tree grows good fruit, and a good person speaks good words. Jesus wanted everyone to see that he is the one who brings goodness and healing into the world.
Read It Together
Matthew 12:1-2
1 At that time, Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, “Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”
(WEB)
Point out that Jesus’ friends were hungry, and ask the children what they do when they feel hungry. Explain that the Pharisees thought the friends were doing something wrong, even though they were only eating.
Matthew 12:11-13
11 He said to them, “What man is there among you, who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, won’t he grab on to it, and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.” 13 Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out; and it was restored whole, just like the other.
(WEB)
Show the children that Jesus asked a question to help everyone think clearly. Point out that the man was healed, and that Jesus wanted to do good on the Sabbath, not harm.
Matthew 12:33-35
33 “Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. 35 The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things.
(WEB)
Explain that a tree is known by its fruit, and that our words and actions show what is in our hearts. Ask children to think about what kinds of words they want to grow.
Talk About It
- Why do you think Jesus’ friends were hungry, and what did they do about it?
- How did Jesus help the man with the hand that did not work well?
- What does it mean that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath?
- Why do you think Jesus said a person is worth more than a sheep?
- What are some good things you can say or do this week to show kindness?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Good Tree
Give each child a sheet of paper, crayons, and a pencil. Ask them to draw a tree with roots, a trunk, and branches. On the branches, they can draw good fruit, such as a smile, a helping hand, or a kind word. Talk together about how the fruit shows what is inside the tree, just as our words and actions show what is in our hearts.
Stretch and Help Game
Have children stand in a circle. Call out a simple kind action, such as “stretch out your hand to help a friend,” and the children act it out while the group responds. Vary the actions so children practice being helpful in different ways. Keep the game gentle and joyful, and end by saying the memory verse together.
Take-Home Helping Card
Cut index cards in half, one per child. Ask each child to write or draw one helpful thing they plan to do this week, like setting the table or sharing a toy. Let them decorate the card with stickers or markers. Encourage them to take it home and show their family, reminding them that Jesus cares about every good thing we do.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that Jesus has authority over the Sabbath and that God’s heart is for mercy and healing, not for rules that keep people from helping others. Jesus challenges religious leaders who care more about appearances than about people in need, and he invites everyone to see the Son of Man as the one who brings true rest and restoration.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the conflict with the Pharisees as though all religious people are bad. Keep the focus on Jesus’ kindness and his love for people, and invite children to see that God wants us to care for others, not to feel scared of rules.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Jesus, thank you that you are in charge of everything and that you love us very much. Help us to be kind and to do good every day, just like you did. Show us how to use our words and hands to help others. We love you, and we want to follow you. Amen.
