Leviticus 21 teaches children that God chose the priests to belong to him in a special way, and that God wants his people to live in ways that show they belong to him. This lesson works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God is holy, which means he is special and set apart. He asks the people who serve him to live in ways that show they belong to him.
Memory Verse
Leviticus 21:8
You shall sanctify him therefore; for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you; for I the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy.
(WEB)
Hold both hands out in front of you, then bring them together and cross your arms over your chest. Say the word “holy” slowly as you hug yourself, and remind children that holy means belonging to God.
The Story: Leviticus 21 for Kids
God spoke to Moses one day and gave him a message for the priests. The priests were the sons of Aaron, and they had a very important job. They helped the people of Israel worship God and brought offerings to him.
God explained that priests were special helpers, so they had to live differently from everyone else. When someone in their family died, a priest could go to the funeral for his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother, or his unmarried sister. But he could not go to funerals for other people, because that would make him unclean for his service.
God gave them other rules too. Priests were not to cut their hair in strange ways, cut their beards, or hurt their bodies in worship. God said, “They shall be holy to their God.” God wanted their lives to show that they belonged to him.
God also said that priests should marry only women who were pure and good. He told Moses that the priest was holy to God, and the people should treat him as holy too. God reminded everyone, “I the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy.” God was the one who made his people holy.
God then talked about people who had a physical problem or disability. Those children of Aaron could still eat the bread from the offerings, but they could not go near the altar or the special curtain. God said he is the one who makes his holy places holy. Moses then told Aaron and his sons, and all of Israel, everything God had said.
Read It Together
Leviticus 21:1
The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, ‘A priest shall not defile himself for the dead among his people…
(WEB)
Point out that God himself is the one speaking to Moses. Ask children to notice that God gave these instructions carefully and clearly to the people who served him.
Leviticus 21:6
They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God; for they offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy.
(WEB)
Show children the phrase about being holy to their God and not profaning his name. Explain that living in a way that honors God’s name is one way to show we belong to him.
Leviticus 21:15
He shall not profane his offspring among his people, for I am the LORD who sanctifies him.’”
(WEB)
Point out that God says he is the one who makes his people holy. Remind children that being holy is something God does for us, and we respond by living for him.
Talk About It
- What do you think it means for something to be set apart for a special purpose?
- Why do you think God wanted the priests to live differently from other people?
- How can you show that you belong to God in your everyday life at school or at home?
- What does it tell you about God that he says he is holy?
- Who in your life helps you learn about God, and how do they set a good example for you?
Activity Ideas
Holy Crown Craft
You will need paper strips, gold or yellow paper, glue, tape, and crayons or markers. Have each child decorate a paper strip and write the word “Holy” on it. Tape the strip into a circle that fits their head, and talk about how the priests wore special garments set apart for God.
Set Apart Freeze Game
Play a simple game where children move around the room like they are walking to church. When you call out “Holy!”, they freeze and stand very still like a statue. Explain that being holy means we are set apart for God and ready to serve him, even when we pause.
Holy Home Reminder
Give each child a small card and a pencil. Ask them to write or draw one way they can show they belong to God at home this week, such as helping a sibling or saying thank you. Let them take the card home and place it somewhere they will see it each morning.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God takes holiness seriously and that his people are called to reflect his character in their lives. Under the older covenant, priests carried particular responsibilities, and the instructions show God’s care for worship and the people who led it. Christians see Jesus as the great high priest who fulfills and completes this calling.
With children, avoid suggesting that God rejects people because of physical differences or family circumstances. The disability rules in this chapter belong to the specific setting of priestly service in ancient Israel, so it is best to focus the lesson on God’s holiness and on belonging to him rather than on those details.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for being holy and for making us your own. Help us live in ways that show we belong to you, and help us remember that you are the one who makes us holy. Thank you for loving us and for always being with us. Amen.
