Children's Church Lesson: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Story

Today, we worship Jesus as our Teacher. Through His parables, Jesus teaches us about God’s kingdom. In the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, we will learn God is pleased with humble hearts. Humble means treating other people as more important than we are. When we confess our sins to Him and focus on who He is and what He has done instead of focusing on our own importance, that's worship!

Say: Read “The Pharisee and the Tax Collector” in any children's story bible 

Lesson

Jesus told this parable to people who were looking down on others. That means they

thought of themselves as better than others. What was the difference between the Pharisee’s prayer and the tax collectors’ prayer? (The Pharisee bragged and looked down on others. The tax collector humbly asked for mercy.)

In his prayer, the Pharisee bragged about the good things he had done and looked down on the tax collector. What good things did the Pharisee brag about doing? (Fasting twice a week, giving a tenth of his money.) God is pleased with good deeds when we do them for the right reason. The Pharisee’s good deeds did not please God because the Pharisee was bragging and looking down on others. His heart was not humble. How do you think God feels about our bragging? (Children respond.) How do you think He feels when we look down on others? (Children respond.)

The tax collector humbly asked for mercy – that means he asked for God to forgive him. God forgave the tax collector. He wants us to have humble hearts as the tax collector did. He is not pleased if we look down on others for what they do, what they look like, or for any reason at all! He is not pleased when we brag and praise ourselves as the Pharisee did. He is pleased with a humble heart. Those with humble hearts do not judge others. They treat others as more important than themselves. To be humble we must put away all our pride.

Memory Verse

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. - Luke 18:14

Big Idea

God wants us to be humble.  Being humble means putting God first and seeing others as more important than ourselves.

Prayer- Ask for Joys and Requests

Say a prayer thanking God for his love, and for sending his son, Jesus, so that we can live forever with Jesus.  Ask God to help us be humble.