Bible
Lessons from Matthew
24 lessons
The Ten CommandmentsExodus 19:1-20:21; Exodus 31:18; Matthew 22:34-40God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt. Then at Mount Sinai He gave them Ten Commandments, showing them how to love Him and love each other. God's rescue came first, and His good commands show the rescued how to live.Old TestamentObedience
Fruit of the SpiritFruit of the Spirit: GentlenessNumbers 12:1-16; Matthew 11:28-30; Proverbs 15:1; Philippians 4:5Miriam and Aaron complained about their brother Moses and said, "Hasn't God spoken through us too?" Moses didn't argue or defend himself. God defended him, and when Miriam got sick, Moses' only words were a prayer to heal her. Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit. Jesus is gentle with us, so His Spirit helps us use our strength gently, even when people are hard on us.Old TestamentGentleness
With Building BricksJonah and Nineveh: RepentanceJonah 1–3; Acts 3:19; Matthew 12:41God told Jonah to go to the big, wicked city of Nineveh. But Jonah ran the other way! God sent a storm, and Jonah was thrown into the sea. God sent a huge fish to swallow him. Inside the fish, Jonah prayed and turned back to God. The fish spit him out on dry land. Then God gave Jonah a second chance. Jonah went to Nineveh and gave a very short message. "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!" The whole city believed God. From the king to the cows, they turned from their evil ways, and God showed them mercy. Repentance means turning away from sin and back to God.Old TestamentRepentance
God with Us: Joseph’s DreamMatthew 1:18-25; Isaiah 7:14; 2 Samuel 7:12-16Mary was engaged to marry Joseph, a carpenter from King David's family. Before they were married, Mary was going to have a baby from the Holy Spirit. Joseph was a good man, and he planned to end the engagement quietly. But an angel came to him in a dream – "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She will have a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." It all happened just as God promised through Isaiah – "They will call Him Immanuel," which means "God with us." When Joseph woke up, he did exactly what the angel told him. Obedience means trusting God's word and doing it.New TestamentObedience
We Have Come to Worship Him: The Wise MenMatthew 2:1-12; Micah 5:2After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men called Magi came from the east to Jerusalem. "Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star and have come to worship Him." King Herod was upset, and his teachers told him the Scriptures said the King would be born in Bethlehem. The star led the wise men to the house where Jesus was. They were filled with joy, bowed down and worshiped Him, and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then God warned them in a dream to go home another way. Jesus is the true King, worthy of worship from every nation.New TestamentWorship
Jesus the KingJesus Is BaptizedMatthew 3:1-17Jesus came to John to be baptized in the Jordan River, and God the Father said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," as the Spirit came down like a dove.New TestamentObedience
Jesus the KingJesus Is TemptedMatthew 4:1-11; Deuteronomy 8:2-3After forty days without food in the wilderness, Jesus was tempted by the devil, and He said no every time by trusting God's Word.New TestamentSelf-control
Seeing God's WorldSalt and LightMatthew 5:13-16; Jeremiah 29:4-7Jesus told His followers, "You are the salt of the earth" and "You are the light of the world." Long before, God told His people in Babylon to seek the good of the city and pray for it. Christians don't hide from the world or blend into it. We do good and show Jesus' love so people see it and praise our Father in heaven.New TestamentKindness
The Lord’s PrayerMatthew 6:5-15; Luke 11:1-13When His disciples asked, "Lord, teach us to pray," Jesus gave them a prayer that begins "Our Father in heaven." Because of Jesus, we can talk to God as our loving Father about everything, from His glory to our daily bread.New TestamentPrayer
With NatureLook at the Birds: Jesus Teaches About WorryMatthew 6:25-34; Luke 12:22-32; Matthew 10:29-31Jesus told His followers not to worry. He pointed to the birds, which God feeds, and to the wildflowers, which God dresses more beautifully than a king. Our Father in heaven knows what we need, so we can trust Him and put Him first.New TestamentTrust
With Building BricksThe Wise and Foolish BuildersMatthew 7:24-29; Luke 6:46-49Jesus told about two builders. The wise one built on the rock and his house stood through the storm. Jesus says those who hear His words and do them are like the wise builder.New TestamentObedience
With NatureThe Parable of the SowerMatthew 13:1-23; Luke 8:4-15; Mark 4:26-29Jesus told about a farmer who scattered seed on four kinds of ground. Only the good soil grew a big crop. God's Word is the seed, and when we hear it, hold on to it and keep going, God makes it grow in us.New TestamentPerseverance
With NatureSmall Seed, Big Kingdom: The Mustard Seed and the YeastMatthew 13:31-33; Luke 13:18-21; Mark 4:30-32; Ezekiel 17:22-24Jesus said God's kingdom is like a tiny mustard seed that grows into a plant big enough for birds to nest in, and like a little yeast that works through a whole batch of dough. God's kingdom starts small, but it always grows, so we can have hope.New TestamentHope
Jesus Walks on WaterMatthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:15-21In the middle of a stormy night, Jesus came to His disciples walking on the water. Peter walked toward Him, but when he looked at the wind he began to sink. Jesus caught him right away. Jesus is God, and we can trust Him in every storm.New TestamentTrust
Jesus Shines Like the Sun: The TransfigurationMatthew 17:1-9; Luke 9:28-36Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain. There, Jesus was changed. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Him. Peter wanted to build three shelters. But a bright cloud covered them, and God's voice said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!" The disciples fell down in awe. When they looked up, they saw only Jesus. Jesus is God's Son, and we worship Him by listening to Him.New TestamentWorship
Forgiven So Much: The Unforgiving ServantMatthew 18:21-35; Genesis 4:24; Colossians 2:13-14; Ephesians 4:32Peter asked Jesus, "How many times should I forgive? Seven times?" Jesus said, "Not seven times, but seventy-seven times!" Then He told a story. A servant owed a king ten thousand talents, a debt so huge he could never pay it. He begged for more time, and the king had compassion and canceled the whole debt. But that servant found a man who owed him a hundred denarii, grabbed him and threw him in prison. The king was furious – "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?" Forgiveness means letting go of what others owe us, because God has forgiven us so much more.New TestamentForgiveness
Palm Sunday: Jesus Rides into JerusalemMatthew 21:1-11; Matthew 21:14-16Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey, just as the prophet Zechariah had said the King would come. Crowds spread their cloaks and branches on the road and shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Even children praised Him in the temple. Hosanna means "Save us!" That same week, Jesus saved us by dying on the cross and rising again. Jesus is the King who deserves our worship.New TestamentWorship
Seeing God's WorldMade for RelationshipsMatthew 22:34-40; Genesis 2:18-24; 1 John 4:19-21When someone asked Jesus for the greatest commandment, He gave two that belong together – love God with everything, and love your neighbor as yourself. From the beginning God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone." We were made for relationship with God and with each other.New TestamentLove
Well Done! The Parable of the TalentsMatthew 25:14-30Jesus told a story about a master who went on a long trip. Before he left, he trusted his servants with his money. He gave one servant five talents, another two and another one, each "according to his own ability." The first two servants went right to work and doubled the money. The third dug a hole and hid his talent because he was afraid. When the master came back, he said to the two faithful servants, "Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your master!" Jesus is coming back too. Until then, He trusts us to use what He has given us.New TestamentResponsibility
With Building BricksJesus Is Alive: JoyMatthew 28:1-10; John 16:22; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4Jesus died on the cross, and His body was put in a tomb cut into rock. A huge stone was rolled in front of it. Early on Sunday morning, two women named Mary went to the tomb. Suddenly the ground shook! An angel rolled the stone away and sat on it. He said, "Don't be afraid. Jesus is not here. He has risen, just as He said! Come and see." The women ran with great joy to tell the disciples, and on the way, Jesus met them! Joy is the deep gladness God gives, because Jesus is alive and nothing can take Him away from us.New TestamentJoy
Jesus Blesses the ChildrenMark 10:13-16; Matthew 19:13-15; Luke 18:15-17When people brought little children to Jesus, His disciples tried to send them away. Jesus was upset and said, "Let the little children come to Me." He took them in His arms and blessed them. Jesus loves children and welcomes everyone who comes to Him like a child.New TestamentLove
The Rich Young Ruler: One Thing You LackMark 10:17-27; Matthew 19:16-26; Luke 18:18-27; Hebrews 13:5A rich man ran up to Jesus, knelt and asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said he had kept the commandments since he was a boy. Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," Jesus said. "Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me." But the man went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God's kingdom – but "all things are possible with God." Contentment means being satisfied with what we have, because Jesus is our greatest treasure.New TestamentContentment
With Building BricksCounting the Cost: The Tower BuilderLuke 14:25-33; Matthew 10:37; John 19:30; Hebrews 12:1-2; Philippians 1:6Huge crowds were following Jesus, and He turned and told them what following Him really means – loving Him most of all and carrying their cross. Then He told a story. "Which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and count the cost to see if he has enough to finish it?" If he only laid the foundation, everyone would laugh – "This man couldn't finish what he started!" Following Jesus is worth everything, so we count the cost and keep going. And Jesus Himself counted the cost of saving us and finished the job on the cross.New TestamentPerseverance
The Church BeginsJesus Goes Back to HeavenActs 1:1-11; Matthew 28:18-20Forty days after He rose, Jesus gave His friends a job, to tell the whole world about Him, and promised the Holy Spirit's power. Then He went up to heaven, and angels said He will come back.New TestamentResponsibility