Curriculum
Pharisees Plot Against Jesus
Memory Verse:
"Then he said to them, ‘So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’” Matthew 22:21
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
God has a right response for our life’s circumstances. While some decisions, like that of paying taxes in Bible times, might be confusing, God removes the clutter and makes the way clear that we always honor God.
Scripture Summary
Even in the Bible, we find accounts of political tension and unrest. During this time, Rome occupied Palestine. While the Herodians were in favor of Herod Antipas and his policies, the Pharisees, a religious group, were against all things Roman.
People were required to pay Roman taxes that went right to Caesar. The Jewish people were not only against Roman influence, but they also opposed the pagan activities in which Caesar engaged. The taxes paid to Caesar would, in fact, fund the pagan practices.
The Pharisees were plotting against Jesus. He had already taught against much of the traditionally accepted religious law and instead spoke of matters of the heart, a genuine relationship with God, and loving others well. The Pharisees thought they had just the right question to pose to Jesus and trap Him into supporting their agendas.
If Jesus agreed it was right to pay taxes to Caesar, the Pharisees would claim that Jesus was against God’s law. On the other hand, if Jesus said it was wrong to pay taxes, the Herodians would capture Jesus for opposing the law. It was the perfect trap, right?
The Pharisees were not focused on a love of God’s law, nor were the Herodians focused on a love for justice. Jesus’ answer revealed the hearts behind policies and this question intended as a trap. He provided a way to honor God while respecting the authorities God had placed in their lives.
Why Is This Important
God knows where we are, what authorities are over us, and what we face each day. We can look to Him to provide next steps to honor Him and to live into His best for our lives.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
When No One Is Looking
“The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!” (Luke 12:2-3)
I wonder if it’s harder to live rightly when everyone is looking or when no one is looking. We know that right decisions, with a genuine heart, honor God.
When everyone is looking, those who know us well will be watching for decisions that align with God’s Word and His best for us. There’s a beautiful accountability among believers. We have the opportunity and responsibility to keep each other in check and encourage one another along the journey. Unbelievers who don’t know us well might ridicule us for our actions and tempt us with the pleasures of this world.
When no one is looking, there’s an absence of accountability from fellow believers and less mockery from those who don’t yet know God’s way is best. There is a dangerous and greater temptation to dishonor God when no one is looking. When no one is looking, we can make choices in the dark and cover up the results of these choices.
Luke shares with us Jesus’ words. Jesus said that “everything that is covered up will be revealed.” This wasn’t said to frighten us but to give us a glimpse into the future. God’s way is best for us, and He desires for us to follow Him.
While I can force myself to make a decision because I know it’s the right one, God looks at my heart. Even when I feel that no one is looking, God is looking and sees not only my choices but also my heart as I attempt to honor Him.
Prayer
Dear God, You are worthy of my honor. I know Your way is best, and I want to honor You regardless of who else is looking. Please help me see big and little ways to honor You today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: Plastic coins or tokens, Small address labels Bibles - one per team
Get Ready: Before class write a word from the memory verse on each address label. Place a label on each coin and hide the coins around the room.
“Then he said to them, ‘So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’” Matthew 22:21
Read the Bible memory verse from your Bible. After you read the entire verse, say phrases for kids to echo back to you. Then see if they can echo the entire Bible verse back to you.
SAY: Hopefully you have become familiar with today’s Bible memory verse. I have hidden some coins around the room with today’s Bible memory verse on them. When I say go, you will work together to find the coins. Once you find one, come give it to me. Ready set “GO!”
Allow kids to search for the coins, giving hints as necessary. When all the coins are collected, put the words in order and read the entire Bible memory verse.
ASK:
- What do you have that belongs to God?
- How can you give God honor by giving those things back to Him?
SAY: God has given us so many things that we can give back to Him. We can use our talents and our things to honor God every day.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: Bible, Butcher paper, Markers/Crayons
Get Ready: Lay a long piece of butcher paper down the middle of the class- room. To help spread kids apart, you can also use two or three pieces of butcher paper. Draw a large hollow question mark for each child.
SAY: Jesus said that people should give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. Let’s think about all the things that belong to God now.
- Invite children to draw very small and try to draw all the things that belong to God inside the question mark on their part of the butcher paper.
- After children have completed their drawings, invite them to share some of the things they drew inside the question mark.
SAY: You came up with amazing drawings of all the things that belong to God. Let’s turn to God’s Word and see what it says belongs to Him.
Open your Bible and read aloud 1 Corinthians 10:26.
SAY: In today’s Bible lesson, Jesus was not trapped by the Pharisees’ question. He knew the answer. He told them to give what was Caesar's to Caesar and give what is God’s to God. Our Scripture today reminds us that everything is God's - the whole earth and everything in it.
Snack
Guess It Snacks
You’ll Need: Brown lunch sacks - one per child, A variety of different individually wrapped snacks/treats - one per child
Get Ready: Put different kinds of snacks in the brown lunch bags and close the tops. (You can repeat snacks/treats.)
Hand each child a snack bag and explain that they cannot open it yet.
Before each child opens their bag, ask them, “What is it?” and they have to guess what their treat is. If they guess correctly, they get to go ahead and eat their snack while others are guessing. If they guess incorrectly, they get to wait until everyone has a chance to guess their snack.
SAY: My question was just a fun way for you to try to guess your snack. The only consequence for guessing wrong was you had to wait a minute or two more to eat your snack. In today’s Bible lesson, the Pharisees tried to trick Jesus with a hard question so they could arrest Him. But Jesus knew the answer and knew their hearts. They couldn’t trick Jesus.
Game
10 Questions Game
Using items in your classroom, play 10 Questions. Allow kids 10 yes/ no questions to try to guess what thing you are thinking of. Play several rounds.
SAY: You asked some fun questions. In today’s Bible lesson, the Pharisees weren’t asking questions to get a true answer. They were trying to trick Jesus, but they were not successful. Jesus knew what they were up to and gave them a perfect answer. Jesus said to honor God with what belongs to God.
Craft
Coin Art
You’ll Need: Construction paper - one piece per child, Jar of old pennies or plastic coins, Glue, Marker
Lightly draw the word GOD on each piece of construction paper. To make the coin art, have kids follow these steps:
- Glue enough pennies/plastic coins on top of the word - GOD!
As kids work, ASK: What do we owe to God? We owe Him our
ALL! (Ask a couple of times and have childen repeat back to you!)
Prayer
Coin Prayers
You’ll Need: Coins from the children’s sermon portion, Bible, Metal bucket
Give each child a coin from the children’s sermon portion of today’s lesson.
SAY: Today we learned that the Pharisees did not have pure hearts when they went to meet with Jesus. They were sinning when they were trying to trick Him. Today we are going to pray and ask God to search our hearts so we can honor Him.
Read aloud Psalm 139:23-24.
Explain that kids are to hold their coin tightly in their hand. Lead them in prayer, asking God to search their hearts and help them see if there is any impure way in them. When they finish silently praying, ask them to come drop their coin in the bucket and say, “Amen.”
