Free Bible lesson for kids · Ministry Begins
Jesus Is Tempted
After forty days in the wilderness, the devil tempted Jesus three times. Each time Jesus answered with the Word of God, and the devil left Him.
- Bible passage
- Matthew 4:1–11 · Luke 4:1–13
- Big idea
- God’s Word helps us say no to temptation.
- Memory verse
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4 (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
The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1). After fasting forty days and forty nights, Jesus was hungry (Matthew 4:2). The tempter said, “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread” (Matthew 4:3). Jesus answered, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
Next the devil told Jesus to throw Himself down from the temple. Jesus said, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Matthew 4:5–7). Then the devil showed Him the world’s kingdoms and said, “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:8–9). Jesus said, “Get thee hence, Satan,” for God alone must be worshipped. The devil left, and angels cared for Him (Matthew 4:10–11).
Read it in the Bible: Matthew 4:1–11 (KJV)
1Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Read it in the Bible: Luke 4:1–13 (KJV)
1And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 5And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 9And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 13And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
Questions to ask
How long was Jesus in the wilderness?
Forty days and forty nights.
What did the devil first tell Jesus to do?
Turn stones into bread.
How did Jesus answer each temptation?
With “It is written” — the Word of God.
What this story teaches
- Even the Son of God was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1, 3).
- We need God’s Word even more than we need bread (Matthew 4:4).
- We must never put the Lord our God to the test (Matthew 4:7).
- We should worship and serve only the Lord God (Matthew 4:10).
- God always makes a way to escape temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Jesus Never Sinned
Jesus was tempted in all points like we are, yet He never sinned. He gives us grace to help when we need it.
Hebrews 4:15–16
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to help us remember His Word when we are tempted. |
|---|---|
| 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: “God’s Word helps us say no to temptation.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Matthew 4:4 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 10 minutes
It Is Written!
You need: Open space
- One or two taggers are “temptation”.
- You are safe from being tagged when you stop, hold your hands open like a Bible and shout “It is written!”, but only for three seconds.
- Anyone tagged becomes a tagger. Switch taggers often.
Jesus beat every temptation with the Word of God. God’s Word helps us say no to wrong, too.
For youth group · game · indoors · about 15 minutes
Sword Drill
You need: A Bible for each person, a list of references
- Everyone holds a closed Bible by the spine. The leader calls “Draw swords!”, then a reference, such as Deuteronomy 8:3.
- On “Charge!”, race to find it. The first to stand and read it aloud scores for their team.
- Use the verses Jesus quoted: Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:16 and 6:13.
Jesus answered every temptation with Scripture. Know your sword, the Word of God.
Pray
Ask God to help us remember His Word when we are tempted.