Matthew 4 teaches children that Jesus said no to every temptation by trusting God’s words, and that he then invited ordinary fishermen to follow him. This lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes in a Sunday school or family setting.
Big Idea
Jesus always chose to trust God and obey what God said. When we know God’s words, we can stand strong when we feel tempted, and we can follow Jesus like the first friends did.
Memory Verse
Matthew 4:4
But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
(WEB)
Put one hand on your heart, then open your palm up like you are holding a book. Say the words slowly with the motion, and have children copy you. Repeat it three times, getting a little quieter each time until everyone whispers the last one.
The Story: Matthew 4 for Kids
After Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led him out into a hot, empty desert. He stayed there for forty days and forty nights without eating. By the end, Jesus was very hungry, and that is when the devil came to visit him. The devil is the enemy of God, and he wanted Jesus to doubt God.
The devil said, “If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.” Jesus did not need to prove anything to the devil. He answered by quoting God’s words from the Scriptures, saying that people live by every word from God. Jesus trusted God more than he trusted his own empty stomach.
The devil tried again. He took Jesus up to the highest part of the temple in Jerusalem and said, “Jump down, because God will send angels to catch you.” Jesus answered that we should never test God just to see if he will act. Once again, Jesus stayed close to God’s Word.
Next, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain. He showed him all the kingdoms of the world and offered them to him if Jesus would bow down and worship him. Jesus sent the devil away, saying that only God should be worshiped and served. Then the devil left, and angels came to take care of Jesus.
After this, Jesus moved to Capernaum by the lake of Galilee. He began to teach people that God’s kingdom was near and that they should turn their hearts back to God. Walking along the shore, Jesus saw two fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew, throwing their nets into the water. Jesus said, “Come, follow me, and I will teach you to catch people for God.”
Right away, Simon and Andrew left their nets and followed Jesus. Jesus kept walking and saw two more brothers, James and John, mending their nets in a boat with their father. He called them too, and they immediately left the boat and followed him. Soon Jesus was healing many sick people, and crowds came from everywhere to follow him.
Read It Together
Matthew 4:1-2
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.
(WEB)
Point out that Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit, not by chance. Ask children how they think Jesus felt after forty days without food, and remind them that God knew exactly what Jesus needed.
Matthew 4:10
Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”
(WEB)
Show how Jesus answered the devil by pointing to God, not to himself. Explain that worshiping God means loving him above everything else, and that Jesus never gave up that love.
Matthew 4:19-20
19 He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed him.
(WEB)
Notice that Jesus called fishermen to become his followers. Help children see that these men left their nets right away, which shows what it looks like to say yes to Jesus.
Talk About It
- What did the devil ask Jesus to do first, and how did Jesus answer him?
- How can God’s words help us when we are tempted to do something wrong?
- Why do you think Simon and Andrew left their nets to follow Jesus?
- What is one thing you could do this week to trust God the way Jesus did?
- How can we tell others about Jesus, like fishers catching people for God?
Activity Ideas
Bread and Stones Craft
You will need construction paper, crayons, glue, and a few small rocks or cardboard circles. Have children draw a loaf of bread on one piece of paper and glue a small stone beside it. Talk together about how Jesus chose God’s words over stones turned into bread, and let children add a word from God in the middle of the picture.
Follow the Leader Game
Gather the children in a open space and pick one child to be Jesus. The rest of the group follows the leader, copying every movement, just as Simon and Andrew followed Jesus. Switch leaders often, and pause to remind everyone that we follow Jesus by listening to him.
Take-Home Word Card
Cut an index card in half and write Matthew 4:4 on one side with a simple drawing of an open Bible on the other. Each child takes the card home and places it by their bed or on the kitchen table. Ask them to read it aloud with their family during dinner or bedtime this week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows Jesus facing real temptation as a human being while remaining fully obedient to the Father. He answers each temptation with Scripture, showing that God’s Word is our sure foundation. His call to the first disciples also reminds us that God chooses ordinary people to share his good news.
Avoid overstating the mechanics of the temptations to young children, such as trying to explain the exact location of the mountain or the nature of the devil’s appearance. Keep the focus on Jesus trusting God and on the invitation to follow him, which children can understand and act on.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Jesus, thank you for trusting God when you were hungry and tired. Help us to know God’s words and to choose them when we are tempted. Teach us to follow you every day, just like the first friends who left their nets behind. Amen.
