Lesson: Matthew 5:31 (Ages 3-5)

📖 Matthew 5:31 – Ages 3-5

Explanation

In this Bible verse, Jesus is talking about how important it is to treat others with kindness and respect, especially in families. When two people get married, they promise to love and take care of each other forever. But sometimes, things can get tough, and they might not be able to live together happily anymore.

Divorce is when a husband and wife decide to stop being married so they can be happier apart. In the olden days, people used to have a special paper to show that they were no longer married. This paper was like a way of saying, "We have decided to go our separate ways, but we will still treat each other with kindness and respect."

Jesus wants us to remember that even if grown-ups decide to divorce, they should still be kind to each other, especially if they have children. Just like how we share toys with our friends or help our siblings when they are sad, Jesus wants us to show love and care to everyone, even when things are hard.

So, the important lesson here is to always treat others with love and kindness, even when things are difficult. Jesus teaches us to be understanding and gentle with each other, just like how He loves and cares for us every day.

Kid's Story

Once upon a time, there was a family of playful squirrels living in the forest. One day, Mama Squirrel and Papa Squirrel had a big argument about sharing acorns. They were so upset that Mama Squirrel thought they should get a divorce.

Little Squirrel, their child, felt sad and confused. He asked his wise old friend Owl for advice. Owl explained that even though Mama and Papa Squirrel were upset, it was important for them to talk and forgive each other instead of getting a divorce.

Little Squirrel went back to his parents and shared Owl's advice. Mama and Papa Squirrel listened to him and realized that they still loved each other. They talked, apologized, and hugged each other, feeling happy and closer than ever.

Just like in the forest, it's important for families to talk and forgive each other instead of giving up on their relationships.

Prayer Prompt

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us and always being with us. Help us to remember that marriage is a special promise between a husband and a wife, and it is important to show love and respect to each other. Amen.

Discussion Questions

What do you think it means to divorce someone?
Why do you think it's important to treat others with kindness and love, even when things are hard?
How do you think we can show love and forgiveness to others, even when we are upset?
Why do you think it's important to follow God's teachings about love and relationships?
How can we pray to God for help when we are feeling sad or hurt?

Life Application

In Matthew 5:31, Jesus is teaching us about the importance of treating others with love and respect, especially in our closest relationships, like marriage. For young children, this verse can be applied in their daily lives by showing kindness and respect to their family members, friends, and teachers.

Children can apply this verse at home by being loving and respectful towards their parents and siblings. They can listen to their parents, help out with chores, and speak kindly to their family members. This shows that they value and respect their family relationships.

At school, children can apply this verse by being kind to their classmates and teachers. They can share their toys, take turns, and use gentle words when playing with others. By showing love and respect to their friends, children can create a positive and caring environment at school.

Overall, young children can apply the message of Matthew 5:31 by treating others with love and respect in all areas of their lives. This verse reminds us to value our relationships and to show kindness to everyone we meet.

Craft or Activity

One fun activity you can do with young children to help them understand the message of Matthew 5:31 is to create a pretend marriage certificate craft.

1. Begin by explaining to the children that marriage is a special promise between a husband and wife, just like how God makes promises to us.

2. Provide the children with paper, markers, stickers, and other craft supplies to create their own marriage certificates. They can write their names or draw pictures of themselves and a pretend spouse.

3. As they work on their certificates, talk to them about the importance of keeping promises and treating others with kindness and love.

4. Once they have finished their marriage certificates, you can discuss how divorce is a sad thing that can happen when promises are broken, and how God wants us to treat each other with love and respect.

This hands-on activity will not only help children understand the message of Matthew 5:31 in a simple way, but it will also reinforce the importance of love, respect, and keeping promises in their own lives.

Memory Verse or Rhyme

In the Bible it's clear to see,
Divorce needs a certificate, Matthew 5:31, you see!
When a marriage ends, this is what must be done,
To follow God's law and show love to everyone!

Songs or Videos

A great Christian song for kids that relates to the message of Matthew 5:31 is "Love One Another" by VeggieTales. This song teaches children about the importance of love, forgiveness, and treating others with kindness, which are all key themes in the verse from Matthew.

Another wonderful song is "The Fruit of the Spirit" by Go Fish. This song helps kids understand the fruits of the Spirit, such as love, patience, and gentleness, which can guide them in relationships and interactions with others, including the message of honoring relationships like marriage as emphasized in Matthew 5:31.

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