The Armor of God · Lesson 2
The Armor of God: The Breastplate of Righteousness
Zechariah 3:1-10; Ephesians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Jeremiah 23:5-6 Old Testament PrincipleRighteousness
In a vision, Zechariah saw Joshua the high priest standing before God in filthy clothes while the accuser pointed at his sin. God said, "Take off his filthy clothes," and dressed him in clean robes. Joshua did nothing; God did it all. The breastplate of righteousness is God's gift. Jesus takes our sin and gives us His righteousness, and that guards our hearts when we're accused.
The breastplate of righteousness is God's gift. Jesus makes us right with God by taking our sin and giving us His goodness, and His Spirit helps us live right.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 BSB
Christ Connection · Promise
In the same vision, God promised, "I am going to bring My servant, the Branch… and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day" (Zechariah 3:8-9). Jeremiah called the Branch "The LORD Our Righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:5-6). That Branch is Jesus. On one day, at the cross, He took our filthy clothes, our sin, and gave us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). Now "who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies" (Romans 8:33).
2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9; Romans 8:33-34; Revelation 12:10
The Big Story · Redemption
God promised to send the Branch, His Servant, who would take away His people's sin in a single day, and Jesus did it at 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: Filthy clothes, clean clothes
- Theo’s Workshop (build challenge): Guard the heart
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Clean or dirty?
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Preschool (ages 3–5)
Jesus makes me clean inside.
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: Dirty to clean, Color the clean heart
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- 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
God showed Zechariah a picture of Joshua the high priest in filthy clothes, while the accuser pointed at his sin. God said, "Take off his filthy clothes," and gave him clean robes. The breastplate of righteousness is God's gift. Jesus takes away our sin and makes us right with God, and that protects our hearts.
Memory verse
“God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Adapted from 2 Corinthians 5:21
Start here
Do the dirty shirt, clean shirt demonstration. Say, "Today we learn about the second piece of God's armor, the breastplate of righteousness."
Bible story 6 min
God showed His prophet Zechariah a picture. It was called a vision. In it, a man named Joshua stood before God's angel. Joshua was the high priest. He was supposed to wear clean, white clothes. But his clothes were dirty!
Satan, God's enemy, stood there too. He pointed at Joshua. "Look at his dirty clothes! Look at his sin! He does not belong here!"
But God said, "No! I have saved this man." Then the angel told the helpers, "Take off his dirty clothes!"
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Dress Joshua 8 min
You’ll need: A dirty old T-shirt, A clean white T-shirt
- A volunteer "Joshua" wears the dirty shirt. When a child answers a question, they help take off a "dirty" thing (pretend) and say, "Jesus takes away our sin!" Finally put on the clean shirt and everyone cheers.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
In Zechariah's vision, Joshua the high priest stood before God in filthy clothes while the accuser pointed at his sin. God silenced the accuser, took off Joshua's filthy clothes and dressed him in clean robes. Joshua did nothing; God did it all. The breastplate of righteousness is Jesus' righteousness, given to us, which guards our hearts when we're accused and helps us live right.
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: Clothed by God, Armor checklist
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at school, online and on screens
- 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
In Zechariah's vision, Joshua the high priest, representing the whole nation, stood in filthy clothes while the accuser pressed charges. God silenced the accuser, stripped away the filth and clothed him in splendid robes, then promised the Branch who would remove sin "in a single day." The breastplate of righteousness is Christ's righteousness credited to us, which guards our hearts against accusation and shame and then shapes how we live.
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: Two kinds of righteousness, Answering the accuser
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: online and on screens, at school, at home
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in