This lesson teaches children that God is generous and gives us far more than we could ever earn. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, a memory verse, and a short activity.
Big Idea
God is always generous and kind, and He gives us his love and blessings as a gift, not because we earned them.
Memory Verse
Matthew 20:16
So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
(WEB)
Teach the children to hold both hands out flat, palms up, like they are receiving a gift. Then say the verse together and move your hands to the beat, first up, then down, then up again. Ask them to show you their gift hands whenever they hear the words “last” and “first.”
The Story: Matthew 20 for Kids
One morning, a man who owned a big vineyard went out early to find workers. He found some people standing around in the town square, and he said, “Come and work in my vineyard today, and I will pay you a fair wage.” So they went to work. The man went out again at lunchtime and at three o’clock in the afternoon, and he found more people waiting for work. He invited them to work too, and they gladly went.
Near the end of the day, about five o’clock, the man went out one more time. He found some people who had not been hired by anyone all day. He asked them, “Why are you standing here doing nothing?” They answered, “Because nobody has hired us.” So he said, “Come and work in my vineyard too.”
When evening came, the owner told his helper to pay all the workers, starting with the ones who came last. Those who had worked only one hour each received a full day’s pay. Then the workers who had been there since early morning came up, expecting to get more. But they were each given the same amount of money, one day’s wage.
The workers who had worked all day complained. “These people worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us, even though we worked all day in the hot sun!” The owner answered one of them kindly, “Friend, I am not being unfair to you. You agreed to work for this pay, and you got exactly what we agreed on. I want to be generous to these other workers too. Isn’t it my right to do what I want with my own money?”
Later, Jesus was walking toward Jerusalem with his twelve disciples. He told them that soon he would be handed over and would suffer, but that he would rise again. Then a mother came to Jesus with her two sons, who were James and John, and she asked if her sons could sit beside Jesus in his kingdom. Jesus gently explained that they did not really understand what they were asking, and he reminded all of them that being a leader in God’s kingdom means serving others, just as he came to serve and not to be served.
As Jesus left the city of Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men sitting by the road heard that Jesus was passing by, and they called out, “Lord, have mercy on us!” The crowd told them to be quiet, but they shouted even louder. Jesus stopped, called them over, and asked what they wanted. They said, “Lord, we want to see again.” Jesus felt sorry for them, touched their eyes, and right away they could see. Then they followed him.
Read It Together
Matthew 20:1-2
1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
(WEB)
Point out that the owner went out early to find workers and agreed on a fair wage. Ask the children to notice that the owner made a promise and kept it, showing that God is faithful to his word.
Matthew 20:13-14
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.
(WEB)
Show the children that the owner reminded the worker that he had been treated fairly. Explain that God gives according to his own generous heart, and that his choices are always good.
Matthew 20:26-28
26 It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 27 Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
(WEB)
Point out that Jesus said the greatest people serve others, and that he himself came to serve. Help children see that Jesus is the perfect example of generous service.
Talk About It
- How do you think the first workers felt when they saw the last workers get the same pay?
- What does it mean that God is generous with us, even when we have not earned his love?
- Who is someone you could be generous to this week?
- Why do you think Jesus said that the greatest people serve others?
- What is one thing you can do to help someone who needs help, like the blind men needed Jesus?
Activity Ideas
Vineyard Collage
You will need paper, crayons or markers, glue, and scraps of green and purple paper. Have each child draw a simple vineyard with rows of grape vines and small grape clusters. Glue the scraps onto the grapes to add texture. Invite the children to tell you one way God is generous to them as they work.
Gift Hands Game
Gather the children in a circle and place a small object, such as a coin or a stone, in one child’s hands. Have the child pass the object to the next child, but say “first” or “last” randomly. When a child is told “last,” they must share the object with someone who has not received one yet. Talk about how giving freely brings joy to everyone.
Coin Reminder Jar
You will need a clear jar, coins, and a marker. Write “God is generous” on a strip of paper and tape it to the jar. Each day, the child adds one coin or a small note about a kind thing someone did for them or that they did for someone else. At the end of the week, read the notes together and thank God for his generosity.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this parable reveals that God’s grace is not earned by our effort or length of service. Those who were hired first were not wrong to expect fair pay, but God’s generosity toward others does not diminish his faithfulness to them. The passage also calls every believer to serve rather than to seek status, which the request of James and John illustrates clearly.
Be careful not to suggest that children should receive love or rewards in a way that ignores fairness or effort. The lesson is about God’s generous character, not about a system where hard work does not matter. Keep the focus on God’s kindness rather than on rules about pay.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for being so generous and kind to us. Help us to remember that every good gift comes from you. Teach us to serve others with joy, just as Jesus served us. Help us to share what we have and to be kind to everyone we meet. We love you, and we want to follow you every day. Amen.
