MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 22:46 "And no man was able to answer him a word..."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Ecclesiastes. Write "Ecclesiastes" on small slips of paper, so the students may memorize another Old Testament book at home.
PRAYER: Words are powerful. Pray that we might always be careful of what we say.
SPECIAL SONG: Be Patient And Kind (see April 2014 - Lesson - Joseph Meets His Brothers Who Hated Him on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.), Be Careful Little Eyes What you See (see March 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)
VISUAL AID: TV Box (see February - Visual Aids #1 on this blog for directions); a few coins, showing men's faces on them.
LESSON POINTS:
- The Pharisees and other groups of people, like the Herodians and the Sadducees, were people with power in Bible times who wanted to stop Jesus from preaching and teaching even if it meant killing Him (Mark 3:6). They were always trying to trick Jesus into saying something wrong, but Jesus, being perfect and knowing the hearts of the people, always knew what they intended to do and answered them with amazing words.
- The Pharisees met together and talked about how they could entangle Jesus with their words. They decided to send a group of Pharisees with a group of Herodians to Jesus and ask Him questions. First, they presented Him with a little truth. They called Jesus 'Master' or 'Teacher', then they said more truthful things like how Jesus was true and taught the way of God in truth and how Jesus treated everyone with the same respect and care. All of those things were true! But, then, they asked a question that they hoped would trick Jesus. They asked if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, the highest official in Rome. Jesus knew their wicked ways and what they were trying to do. He answered them by saying, "Why are you trying to tempt me, you hypocrites? Show me a coin that is used for paying taxes." They brought him a penny, and then Jesus said to them, "Whose image is on this coin?" The Herodians said, "Caesar's." Jesus said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's." When the men heard Jesus' answer, they were amazed at His words. Jesus had answered perfectly!
- That same day, the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, asked Him another question, trying to trick Jesus again. They asked Jesus about Moses and the Law. They asked about marriage after people die. They thought people were still married after they died, but Jesus said, "You do not know the scriptures! In the resurrection after people die, they do not marry, but they are like the angels of heaven. As for the resurrection is concerned, God is not the God of the dead, He is the God of the living!" Again, when the crowds of people heard Jesus' words, they were amazed!
- When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees with His answer, they gathered together again, trying to trick Jesus through their speech. One of the Pharisees was a lawyer and the lawyer asked Jesus another question. The lawyer did not have a pure heart and did not want to truly know the answer to his question. He, too, wanted to tempt Jesus. He asked Jesus, "Master, what is the greatest commandment?" Jesus didn't hesitate a moment! He said, "You should love the Lord God will all of your heart, soul and mind. That is the first and great commandment. The second is like it. You should love your neighbor as yourself."
- Then, Jesus had a question for the Pharisees. While they gathered together again, he asked them, "What do you think of Christ? Whose son is He?" The Pharisees said, "The son of David." Jesus then asked them a harder question. He asked, "Then, how can David, in spirit, call him Lord, saying, 'The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit on my right side until I make your enemies your footstool?' If David called him Lord, how is he his son?" This was too much for the Pharisees! No one was able to answer Jesus' question and from that day on, no one asked Him anymore questions. All of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians were all silenced.
- It is interesting to note that in each of these situations, the ones who were asking Jesus questions, had a little bit of truth to each of their questions. However, there is a little bit of good grain mixed with poison. Poison will kill something, no matter how much good grain there is. Apply this thought to this lesson. Discuss.
Materials needed: 9" x 12" light green construction paper, crayons, marker. (NOTE: Using the top picture as a guide, crayons highlighting different columns make the information very clearly understood.)
- Hand out green paper.
- Fold paper in half.
- Fold paper in half again.
- Open paper.
- Trace over fold lines with green crayon.
- In the FIRST COLUMN: Write, "3 "TRICK" Questions For Jesus" and "Matthew 22."
- Draw a line about 1" down from top of paper, drawing ONLY across the three last boxes.
- Draw a line about 1/2" down from the first line, drawing ONLY across the three last boxes.
- Draw a line about 2" down from second line, drawing ONLY across the three last boxes.
- Draw a line about 2" down from third line, drawing ONLY across the three last boxes.
- (Note: It is easier for the students to write in columns, instead of writing across the page.)
- In the SECOND COLUMN:
- In top box--write "#1."
- In second box--write, "Herodians."
- In third box--write "Question," "v. 17," and "Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar?"
- In the fourth box--write "Answer," "v. 21," and "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
- In the fifth box--write "Conclusion:," "v. 22," and "They marvelled!"
- In the THIRD COLUMN:
- In top box--write "#2."
- In second box--write, "Sadducees."
- In third box--write "Question," "v. 28," and "In the resurrection, whose wife will she be?"
- In the fourth box--write "Answer," "v. 30, 32," and "You don't know the scriptures! They don't marry in heaven. They are as angels. God is the God of the living."
- In the fifth box--write, "Conclusion:," "v. 33," and "They were astonished!"
- In the FOURTH COLUMN:
- In top box--write "#3."
- In second box--write, "Lawyer/Pharisees."
- In third box--write "Question," "v. 36," and "What is the greatest commandment?"
- In the fourth box--write "Answer," "v. 37, 39," and "Love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind. Love neighbor as yourself."
- In the fifth box--write, "Conclusion:," "v. 46," and "No man was able to answer Him!"
