The Pharisees
Children's Activity
Object:
In today's scripture we find Jesus being challenged by the Pharisees, the legal-minded religious leaders of the Jews. This happened a lot. There was often a Pharisee around to point out when Jesus' teaching was contrary to Jewish traditions.
In the verses just before today's lesson, the Pharisees challenge Jesus because his disciples break Jewish tradition by neglecting to wash their hands before they eat. (This was not a matter of hygiene, but of ritual.) Because they were so legalistic about behavior, the Pharisees believed the disciples to be sinning greatly. Jesus is angry and points out that the Pharisees frequently bend God's rules as it suits them. He calls them hypocrites and quotes Isaiah, "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me; teaching human precepts as doctrines" (vv. 8, 9).
Children need to understand that laws and rules are important. Without them we would hurt ourselves and each other and we would live in chaos. All people need rules of one kind or another, that's why God gave his people the Ten Commandments. Children also need to understand that it takes more than rule-following to be people who are pleasing to God.
On a piece of newsprint, list as many laws as the children can think of -- including basic ones like traffic laws. Label the paper "Living by Law." Label a second sheet "Living by Christ." List things that help us be good people. How did Christ teach us to live? Some of the items on your lists may overlap, but the children will begin to see that following laws (like stopping at stop signs) isn't the same as living like Jesus did. Rules are important, but Jesus is more concerned with whether or not we have taken their meaning into our hearts and lives.
In the verses just before today's lesson, the Pharisees challenge Jesus because his disciples break Jewish tradition by neglecting to wash their hands before they eat. (This was not a matter of hygiene, but of ritual.) Because they were so legalistic about behavior, the Pharisees believed the disciples to be sinning greatly. Jesus is angry and points out that the Pharisees frequently bend God's rules as it suits them. He calls them hypocrites and quotes Isaiah, "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me; teaching human precepts as doctrines" (vv. 8, 9).
Children need to understand that laws and rules are important. Without them we would hurt ourselves and each other and we would live in chaos. All people need rules of one kind or another, that's why God gave his people the Ten Commandments. Children also need to understand that it takes more than rule-following to be people who are pleasing to God.
On a piece of newsprint, list as many laws as the children can think of -- including basic ones like traffic laws. Label the paper "Living by Law." Label a second sheet "Living by Christ." List things that help us be good people. How did Christ teach us to live? Some of the items on your lists may overlap, but the children will begin to see that following laws (like stopping at stop signs) isn't the same as living like Jesus did. Rules are important, but Jesus is more concerned with whether or not we have taken their meaning into our hearts and lives.
