Writing a children’s sermon on Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26, the text for “Proper 5(10),” which is the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost this year, requires one to make choices.
There are really four separate stories here:
- Jesus calls Matthew the tax collector.
- Jesus eats with “sinners.”
- Jesus heals a man’s dead little girl.
- Jesus heals a woman who has a bleeding disorder.
That fourth story is sort of sandwiched into the middle of the third story, adding another layer of complexity.
When I gave you a children’s sermon on Mark 5:21-43 a while back I had a similar problem. That text is Mark’s version of our stories 3 and 4, though some details are different. That time I followed my usual rule: stick to the story with a kid in it. But since I already did that, this time I’ll focus on the earlier stories. It seems quite relevant to kids (maybe older kids, actually) if you dig a bit into what made the Pharisees problematic. In any case, here you go with a children’s sermon on Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
A Children’s Sermon on Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
Good morning, kids! Thanks for coming up to hear the children’s sermon. I am so glad that you are here in worship today.
I want to talk to you about today’s Bible reading. It comes from one of the Gospels. The Gospels are the four books of stories that teach us about Jesus. Some parts are stories Jesus told, and some parts are stories about what Jesus did. This story is about some things Jesus did. It comes in the Gospel written by a man named Matthew.
This is a story about Jesus and Matthew.
The Calling of Matthew
One day Jesus was walking through a town with some of his friends. They passed the market area where people set up their booths to sell things.
Some booths sold fruits and vegetables.
Some booths sold grains and nuts.
Some booths sold cloth to make clothes.
There were people buying things at all the booths — except one.
Jesus went right up to that booth.
There didn’t seem to be anything for sale. There was a big wooden box, with a hole in the top and a big lock on the lid. And there was a big notebook beside the box. Behind the booth was a man.
Jesus said to the man “Hello, friend! What’s your name.”
“My name is Matthew,” the man said. “Did you come to pay your taxes?”
“Oh,” said Peter. “You’re a tax collector! No wonder nobody wants to come to your shop.”
“Oh, yuck!” said Simon Zealot. “How can you stand being a tax collector? You work with the Roman government! I think you’re a traitor to our people!”
Jesus put his arm around Simon Zealot’s shoulder and pulled him aside. Jesus whispered in his ear. Then Simon came back to Matthew’s tax booth. He looked kind of embarrassed.
“I’m sorry” Simon said to Matthew. “I shouldn’t have been so rude.”
“Its okay,” said Matthew. “I get that a lot. Nobody really wants to be friends with a tax collector.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Jesus. “That sounds really hard. I’d like to be your friend. Why don’t you come follow me?”
“Follow you?” asked Matthew. “Where are you going? What do you do?”
“We’re going lots of places,” said Jesus. “I’ve come to teach everybody about the Kingdom of Heaven.”
“It’s pretty fun,” said Simon Zealot. “Sometimes he does miracles!”
“Miracles?” asked Matthew.
“Yeah!” said Simon. “You should join us!”
So he did.
At Dinner
Well, it was almost dinner time so Matthew said “Why don’t you come to my house? You could teach my family about that thing — the Kingdom of Heaven.”
So they went to Matthew’s house for dinner. All evening long Jesus taught about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Everybody saw Jesus go into Matthew’s house.
And everybody wanted to hear Jesus teaching.
But nobody wanted to go into Matthew’s house.
They sent one man to knock on the door.
Knock knock knock.
“Jesus!” they called. “Could you come out and teach us too?”
“Come on in!” said Jesus. “There’s plenty of room!”
Then nobody said anything.
But Matthew tapped Jesus on the shoulder. He said, “Those are the popular people. They are really cool — everyone admires them. They won’t come into my house.”
There was another knock at the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Jesus!” they called. “Could you at least just come to the door for a minute?”
So Jesus went to the door, and opened it up. He saw a big crowd outside.
“Jesus,” said the man who had been knocking. “We can’t come inside there! He’s a tax collector. That’s totally not cool. He’s a — well, he does bad things. And we all are very careful to always do the right things. Everyone approves of what we do. How can you actually eat with someone like that? How can you go onto his house? Yuck!”
“Oh my friend,” said Jesus. “I came to help people. I want people who have no hope to find lots of hope. I want people with no love to find lots of love. I want to help people everywhere find life!”
“But he’s a bad person!” said the man at the door — kind of quietly, but not quietly enough.
“Look at it this way,” said Jesus. “If I was a doctor, I would try to treat sick people, right? No need to give medicine to healthy people. Maybe you just don’t need any help. Maybe you have all the hope and love and joy you need. I came for people who want more life.”
They were both quiet for a bit. Then Jesus said “I’m going to go back and teach now. You can come too of you want to. It’s really up to you. You’re always welcome.”
Wondering
I wonder what kinds of people Jesus would come to if he came today?
I wonder if you would like Jesus to come and teach at your house?
I wonder if those popular people ever decided to come and listen to Jesus?
++++++++++++
You are, of course, free to use this children’s sermon, or adapt it as you find most useful. But, if you use it, please do one (or more!) of the following.
- You can let me know that you are using it, either in the comments below, or using the contact form above.
- You can put a little notice in your church bulletin that your children’s sermon is adapted from one published on GaryNealHansen.com.
- You can support my work over on Patreon. (Just $1 per month brings my children’s sermons straight to your inbox about two minutes after they go live. And every little bit keeps me going…)
Leave a Reply