This lesson teaches children that Jesus gives us a special way to live, full of kindness, peace, and love, even toward people who are unkind to us. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
Jesus wants his followers to be kind, gentle, and peaceful, and to love everyone, even people who are hard to love. God helps us do this.
Memory Verse
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
(WEB)
Teach the children to hold both hands out in front of them, palms up, then slowly bring them together as if they are gently joining two friends. Say the words together while you move your hands, and let the children do it with you a few times.
The Story: Matthew 5 for Kids
One day, a big crowd of people came to see Jesus. They had heard about the wonderful things he did, and they wanted to be near him. Jesus climbed up a mountain and sat down. His friends, called disciples, came close so they could hear him teach.
Jesus began to tell them who is truly happy in God’s eyes. He said that people who are gentle are blessed, and that people who make peace are blessed too. He said that God sees the people who care for others, and that God is pleased with them. Jesus said these things because he wanted his friends to know what God’s kingdom is like.
Then Jesus said something surprising. He told his friends that they are like salt for the earth and like a light for the world. Salt makes food taste good, and a light helps people see in the dark. Jesus wanted his friends to let their kindness shine so that others would see God’s goodness.
Next, Jesus talked about a hard thing. He said that people should not be angry at each other, and that they should say sorry and make things right with their friends. He said it is better to be friends than to keep fighting. Jesus was teaching his friends that love matters more than being right.
Jesus also told them something even harder. He said, “Love your enemies, and pray for those who are mean to you.” Some children might think this is impossible, and Jesus knew that. He reminded them that God loves everyone, and that God makes the sun shine on good people and bad people alike. Jesus wanted his friends to be like their Father in heaven.
Read It Together
Matthew 5:3-4
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
(WEB)
Point out that Jesus says these people are happy, even when they feel sad or small. Ask the children why God might comfort people who are hurting, and let them share ideas about how they can comfort someone too.
Matthew 5:16
Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
(WEB)
Show the children that our good works can help others see God. Ask them to name one kind thing they could do this week so that someone might notice and thank God for it.
Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you…
(WEB)
Explain that loving enemies does not mean we must be friends with someone who hurts us, but it does mean we can pray for them and treat them kindly. Help the children see that Jesus gives us a hard but good way to act.
Talk About It
- What is one way you can help someone feel peaceful today?
- Why do you think Jesus called his friends salt and light?
- What can you do when someone says something mean to you?
- How can God help us when we find it hard to be kind?
- Who is someone you find hard to love, and how could you pray for them?
Activity Ideas
Shine Like a Light Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a small flashlight. Have each child draw a picture of themselves doing something kind, then color yellow rays shining out from the drawing. Turn off the room lights and shine the flashlight on the pictures while you talk about how Jesus wants our kindness to be seen.
Peacemaker Pass Game
You will need a soft ball or rolled up socks. Have the children stand in a circle and pass the ball, saying a kind word to the person they pass it to. Each time the ball goes around, invite them to say something peaceful or thankful, so that the game is about gentle words and not about tossing the ball hard.
Peace Reminder Card for Home
You will need an index card, a pen, and a sticker or a small piece of tape. Help each child write a short reminder such as “Be a peacemaker” or “Let my light shine” on one side of the card. Let them take it home and place it somewhere they will see it, like by the bed or on the fridge, so the lesson continues through the week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter is the opening of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, where he describes the character of people who belong to God’s kingdom. It shows that God’s way of living goes deeper than outward rules, reaching into the heart, the words we speak, and the way we treat even those who wrong us. Christians have read these teachings as both a challenge and a comfort, since they point to a life made possible by God’s grace.
Be careful not to suggest to children that they can earn God’s love by being perfectly kind every moment. Make clear that God loves them already and that Jesus helps them grow, so that the lesson leads them toward trust in God rather than fear of failing.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Jesus, thank you for teaching us how to live with kind and peaceful hearts. Help us to be gentle, to make peace, and to let our light shine for you. Please help us love even the people who are hard to love. Amen.
