This lesson teaches children that God wants us to be ready for Jesus and to show His love by caring for people who need help. Children ages 5 to 11 can learn it in 20 to 30 minutes, with a story, a memory verse, some reading, and a simple activity.
Big Idea
Jesus wants us to be ready for Him and to show His love by helping people who are hungry, lonely, or in need. When we help someone, we are helping Jesus too.
Memory Verse
Matthew 25:13
Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
(WEB)
Teach the children to hold both hands up like a lamp and then slowly clap them together on the words “watch” and “ready.” Say the verse together three times, getting a little softer each time, so the children learn to keep watch even when they cannot see what is coming.
The Story: Matthew 25 for Kids
Jesus told His friends a story about ten young women who were waiting for a wedding party. Each one carried a lamp, and they were going out to meet the bridegroom when he arrived. Five of the women were wise, and they brought extra oil for their lamps. The other five were foolish, and they forgot to bring any oil at all.
The bridegroom was late, and everyone grew sleepy and fell asleep. At midnight, someone shouted, “The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!” The women woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said, “Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.” The wise ones answered, “There may not be enough for all of us. Go and buy some for yourselves.”
While the foolish women went to buy oil, the bridegroom came. The wise women went inside with him, and the door was shut. When the foolish women came back and knocked, the bridegroom said, “I do not know you.” Jesus said, “Watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
Jesus then told a second story about a man who went on a trip and gave his servants money to look after. He gave one servant five bags of money, another servant two bags, and a third servant one bag. The first two servants went right to work and doubled what they had been given. The servant with one bag dug a hole and hid his master’s money in the ground.
When the master came home, he was proud of the two faithful servants and said, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share my joy.” The servant who hid his money was afraid and gave it back without any gain. The master was sad and said that a servant should at least have done something with what he was given.
Jesus also told about a day when He would sit on His glorious throne. He would separate people like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. He would tell the ones who helped the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, and the sick, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did it for me.”
Read It Together
Matthew 25:21
“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
(WEB)
Point out that the master praised the servants who used what they had been given. Ask the children what they are good at or what they have been given, such as time, toys, or kind words, and how they could use those things well this week.
Matthew 25:35-36
35 For I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. 36 I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’
(WEB)
Read these verses slowly and have the children name each need: hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick, in prison. Explain that Jesus counts every small act of kindness toward someone in need as something done for Him.
Matthew 25:40
“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
(WEB)
Point out that the King calls the people in need “my brothers” and “the least of these.” Help the children see that everyone matters to Jesus, including people who seem small, quiet, or easy to overlook.
Talk About It
- What do you think it means to be ready for Jesus?
- Why do you think the wise women brought extra oil?
- What did the servants do with what they were given, and what happened because of it?
- Who is someone you know who might be hungry, lonely, or sad this week?
- How can you show Jesus’ love to someone you see every day?
Activity Ideas
Paper Lamp Craft
You will need paper cups, yellow and orange tissue paper, glue, and craft sticks. Have each child glue tissue paper flames onto the outside of a cup, then tape a craft stick to the bottom to make a lamp. As the children work, remind them of the story and ask how they can keep their lamps, or their hearts, ready for Jesus.
Sheep and Goats Game
Mark two sides of the room, one labeled “sheep” and one labeled “goats.” Call out acts of kindness, such as “shared a snack,” “helped a friend who fell down,” or “said something kind to someone sad.” Children move to the sheep side for kind acts and stay put for unkind ones, then talk about why those acts matter to Jesus.
Kindness Jar at Home
You will need an empty jar, paper, and a pen. Write small acts of kindness on slips of paper, such as “make a sandwich for a neighbor” or “draw a picture for someone sick.” Place them in the jar, and have the family draw one each week to do together, reminding everyone that serving others is serving Jesus.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter reminds us that faithfulness and readiness are not about fear or earning God’s favor. Jesus calls His people to stay alert, use the gifts they have been entrusted with, and care tenderly for the vulnerable, because He identifies Himself with them. The parables and the judgment scene both point to a life that is ready, generous, and attentive to others.
Avoid overstating to children that they must do good things to be loved or accepted by God. Keep the focus on Jesus’ love and the joy of serving Him, rather than making children feel anxious about being judged or about whether they are doing enough.
A Prayer to Close
Jesus, help us to be ready for You every day. Show us the people who need our kindness, and give us willing hearts to help them. Thank You for loving us and for counting our small acts of love as done for You. Amen.
