What was Matthew’s job?

He collected taxes (a publican).

Free Bible lesson for kids · Ministry in Galilee

Jesus Calls Matthew

Jesus saw Matthew, a tax collector, sitting at his work and said, “Follow me.” Matthew left everything and made Jesus a great feast, and many publicans and sinners sat with them.

Teach this lesson: film, sheets and guide Print the coloring page

Bible passage: Matthew 9:9–13 · Mark 2:13–17 · Luke 5:27–32
Big idea: Jesus came for sinners like us.
Memory verse: But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matthew 9:13 (KJV)
Ages: Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
Time: About 45 minutes
Included, free: Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game

The story

As Jesus passed by, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the receipt of custom, collecting taxes (Matthew 9:9). Matthew was a publican, a tax collector (Matthew 10:3). Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Matthew left all, rose up and followed Him (Luke 5:27–28). Then he made Jesus a great feast in his own house, and many publicans and sinners came and sat down with them (Luke 5:29; Matthew 9:10).

The Pharisees asked the disciples, “Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?” (Matthew 9:11). Jesus said that people who are well do not need a doctor, but people who are sick do (Matthew 9:12). He told them to learn what God meant by “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13). Then He said, “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13).

Read it in the Bible: Matthew 9:9–13 (KJV)

⁹And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. ¹⁰And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. ¹¹And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? ¹²But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. ¹³But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Read it in the Bible: Mark 2:13–17 (KJV)

¹³And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them. ¹⁴And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. ¹⁵And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. ¹⁶And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? ¹⁷When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Read it in the Bible: Luke 5:27–32 (KJV)

²⁷And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. ²⁸And he left all, rose up, and followed him. ²⁹And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. ³⁰But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? ³¹And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. ³²I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Questions to ask

What was Matthew’s job?
He collected taxes (a publican).
What did Jesus say to him?
“Follow me.”
Who did Jesus say He came to call?
Sinners to repentance.

What this story teaches

Jesus welcomed publicans and sinners to sit and eat with Him (Matthew 9:10).
Jesus is like a doctor who came to heal sinners (Matthew 9:12).
Jesus calls sinners to repent and turn from their sin (Matthew 9:13).
God wants us to show mercy, not just look religious (Matthew 9:13).
When Jesus calls, we should get up and follow Him (Matthew 9:9).

Jesus Is the Great Physician

Sick people need a doctor, and sinners need a Saviour. Jesus came to call sinners like us to turn from sin to Him.

Mark 2:17

A 45-minute lesson plan

5 min	Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank Jesus that He welcomes everyone who comes to Him.
10 min	The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next.
10 min	Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Jesus came for sinners like us.” What does that mean for us?
5 min	Memory verse. Say Matthew 9:13 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone.
10 min	Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions).
5 min	Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week.

Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.

Game time

For kids · game · indoors or out · about 8 minutes

Follow Me!

You need: Nothing

The leader says “Follow me!” and moves around the room doing an action: marching, hopping, flapping.
Everyone follows and copies.
The leader calls a child by name: “Matthew, follow me!” That child becomes the new leader.

Jesus said to Matthew, “Follow me,” and Matthew left everything and followed Him.

For youth group · activity · indoors · about 20 minutes

Plan a Matthew Party

You need: Paper, pens, a calendar

Matthew threw a feast so his friends could meet Jesus. Plan one: a game night or cookout to invite friends who don’t go to church.
Pick a date, food, games and a short, friendly way to share about Jesus.
Everyone writes the names of two friends to invite.

Jesus came to call sinners to repentance, and He loves a party with a purpose.

Pray

Thank Jesus that He welcomes everyone who comes to Him.