The Gates of Jerusalem · Lesson 8
The Gates of Jerusalem: The Horse Gate
Nehemiah 3:28; Psalm 20:7; Zechariah 9:9-10; Matthew 21:1-9; Deuteronomy 17:16 Old Testament PrincipleTrust
The Horse Gate was near the king's palace, where war horses went in and out. The priests fixed the wall above it, each one in front of his own house. In Bible times, horses and chariots were the strongest weapons on earth. But David wrote, "Some trust in chariots, and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Long after, Jesus, the true King, rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, not a war horse, just as God promised. We don't trust our own strength. We trust God.
God is faithful, so we can depend on Him. We don't trust our own strength, looks or plans. We trust the Lord, and our King Jesus came humble, bringing peace.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Some trust in chariots, and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
Psalm 20:7 BSB
Christ Connection · Better than
The New Testament doesn't mention the Horse Gate, so the gate itself is a picture. But the New Testament does tell us what kind of King Jesus is. Zechariah promised, "Your King comes to you… humble and riding on a donkey," and said God would take the war horse from Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9-10). Matthew says Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey "to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet" (Matthew 21:4-5). Jesus is a better King than any king with horses.
Matthew 21:4-5; John 12:14-15; Zechariah 9:9-10
The Big Story · Redemption
God's people learned not to trust in horses and chariots but in Him, and He sent Jesus, the humble King on a donkey, who wins peace for the nations through the cross.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 50-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: Horse or King?
- Ellie’s Lab (science experiment): How long can you hold it?
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Palm parade
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
I trust God, not just me.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Horse and donkey, The happy donkey
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
The Horse Gate was near the king's palace. The king's war horses went in and out there. The priests fixed the wall above it. In Bible times, horses made an army strong. But David said, "Some trust in chariots, and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Many years later, Jesus came into Jerusalem on a donkey, just like God promised. We trust God, not our own strength.
Start here
Ask, "What's the strongest animal you can think of?" Let kids answer. Say, "In Bible times, horses were super strong. Today's gate is the Horse Gate!"
Bible story 6 min
Next came the Horse Gate. It was near the king's palace. The king's horses went in and out that way.
The priests lived near the Horse Gate. Each priest fixed the wall right in front of his own house!
Long ago, horses and chariots made armies strong. Kings wanted lots of them. But God told the kings, "Don't trust horses. Trust Me!"
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Horse or donkey? 8 min
You’ll need: Paper palm branches
- Call out "Horse!" and kids gallop proudly. Call out "Donkey!" and kids walk humbly while waving palm branches and saying "Hosanna!" Mix them up faster and faster. End with "King Jesus!" and everyone bows.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
The Horse Gate stood near the royal palace on the east side of Jerusalem, where the king's horses went in and out, and the priests rebuilt the wall above it, each in front of his own house. In Bible times, horses and chariots were the strongest weapons there were. God warned Israel's kings not to pile them up, and David wrote, "Some trust in chariots, and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Centuries later, Jesus fulfilled Zechariah's promise by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. Our King came humble, and we trust Him, not our own strength.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Horses or the Lord?, Wall of Jerusalem
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, in sports and games, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
The Horse Gate stood near the royal palace on Jerusalem's east side, and the priests rebuilt the wall above it, each in front of his own house. Horses and chariots were the ancient world's superpowers, and God warned Israel's kings not to stockpile them. David put it plainly, "Some trust in chariots, and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Zechariah promised a King humble and riding on a donkey, who would take the war horse from Jerusalem and proclaim peace, and Jesus fulfilled it on purpose. We all have "horses" we're tempted to trust, our strength, image, control or plans. Trust means depending on God, whose strength never runs out.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Chariots and the King, My chariots
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, online and on screens, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons from this story
Same Bible story, a different principle.
More lessons on Trust
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Is the LORD Among Us? Water from the RockExodus 17:1-7; Psalm 78:15-16; 1 Corinthians 10:4God's people traveled through the desert to a place called Rephidim, but there was no water. Instead of asking God for help, they argued with Moses and said, "Is the LORD among us or not?" Moses cried out to God. God told him to take his staff and some of the leaders to a rock at Horeb. God said, "I will stand there before you on the rock." Moses struck the rock, and water gushed out for everyone. God was with His people all along. Paul later said, "That rock was Christ." We can trust God with every need.Old TestamentTrust
Seeing God's WorldThe Big StoryGenesis 1:1, 31; Genesis 3:1-24; Revelation 21:1-5; Romans 11:36The Bible is one true story from beginning to end. God made a good world, sin broke it, Jesus came to rescue us, and one day He will make all things new. Because we know how the story ends, we can trust God in every chapter of our lives.Old TestamentTrust
Thanks Before the Rescue: Paul in the StormActs 27:13-44; Luke 22:19Paul was a prisoner on a ship to Rome when a terrible storm hit. For two weeks the sailors saw no sun or stars, and everyone gave up hope of being saved. But God sent an angel to tell Paul that everyone on board would live. Paul told them, "Take courage, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me." Before dawn on the fourteenth night, with no land in sight, Paul took bread, gave thanks to God in front of them all, broke it and ate. Everyone was encouraged, and in the end all 276 people reached land safely. We can trust God's promises and thank Him even before the rescue comes.New TestamentTrust
Elijah and the Widow1 Kings 17:1-16; Luke 4:25-26During a long drought, God fed Elijah with ravens by a brook. When the brook dried up, God sent him to a poor widow with only a little flour and oil. She trusted God's promise, and her flour and oil never ran out. God takes care of people who trust Him.Old TestamentTrust
With MusicThe LORD Is My Shepherd: David’s Shepherd SongPsalm 23:1-6; 1 Samuel 16:11; 1 Samuel 17:34-37; John 10:11-15David was a shepherd who wrote songs to God. In Psalm 23 he sang that the LORD is his Shepherd, who leads him, takes care of him and stays with him even in the darkest valley. Because God is our good Shepherd, we can trust Him and not be afraid.Old TestamentTrust
With Building BricksJesus Calms the Storm: TrustMark 4:35-41; Mark 5:1; Psalm 56:3One evening, Jesus said to His disciples, "Let us cross to the other side." They got into a boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was tired, so He fell asleep on a cushion. Then a huge storm came. Waves crashed into the boat and filled it with water. The disciples were terrified. "Teacher, don't You care that we are dying?" Jesus got up and said to the sea, "Silence! Be still!" The wind stopped, and it was perfectly calm. Jesus had said they would reach the other side, and they did. Trust means depending on Jesus and His word, even in a storm.New TestamentTrust