Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Tree, by James Tissot

May 15–21

Matthew 21–23; Mark 11; Luke 19–20; John 12

“Behold, Thy King Cometh”

As you read Matthew 21–23; Mark 11; Luke 19–20; and John 12, pay attention to impressions you receive from the Holy Ghost. Refer to “Meeting the Needs of Younger Children” at the beginning of this resource for things to keep in mind as you teach these principles.

Invite Sharing

Show a picture from this week’s outline in Come Follow Me—For Individuals and Families, and invite the children to share what they know about what is happening in the picture.

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Luke 19:1–10

Heavenly Father and Jesus know me by name.

As you read about the Savior’s interaction with Zacchaeus, what messages do you find that may bless the children you teach?

Possible Activities

• Show a picture of Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Tree (in this outline or at ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Help the children find Zacchaeus and say his name. Create actions for the children to do as you tell the story of Zacchaeus and Jesus—for example, standing on their toes to see over a crowd or pretending to climb a tree. Explain that the Savior saw Zacchaeus and called him by name. Testify that the Savior also knows each of the children and their names.

• Bring an empty picture frame to class, or make one out of paper. Invite each child to take a turn holding the frame around his or her face while the rest of the class says, “Heavenly Father and Jesus know [child’s name].”

• Sing together a song about Heavenly Father’s love, such as “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2–3). Help the children listen for things that help them know Heavenly Father loves them.

Matthew 21:12–14

The temple is a sacred place.

Jesus’s reverence for the temple, as described in these verses, can help the children you teach understand that the temple is a sacred place.

Possible Activities

• Show the picture Jesus Cleansing the Temple (Gospel Art Book, no. 51), and tell the story recorded in Matthew 21:12–14. Help the children find money and animals in the picture. Then discuss why the Savior wanted the money changers and the people selling animals to leave the temple.

• Show pictures of temples (for examples, see Gospel Art Book, nos. 117–19), and ask the children to share how they feel when they see a temple. You might explain that the temple is a place where we go to make promises with God, seek answers to prayers, and feel close to God. Help the children identify feelings from the Holy Ghost telling them that the temple is a special place. Ask the children to act as they would if they were inside the temple. For instance, they could talk in whispers and sit reverently.

• Sing together a song about the temple, such as “I Love to See the Temple” (Children’s Songbook, 95), and invite the children to make a goal to go inside the temple someday.

The temple is the house of the Lord.

Matthew 21:28–32

I can be obedient.

Heavenly Father wants us to be obedient. The parable of the two sons is an opportunity to teach about the importance of obedience.

Possible Activities

• Draw a picture of two sons on the board, and use the drawings as you recount the parable in Matthew 21:28–32. Which son did the right thing in the end? Ask the children to name things they can do to be obedient at home. Let them draw pictures of themselves doing one of those things.

• Invite the children to share experiences they have had with being obedient to their parents. How were they blessed for being obedient?

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Luke 19:1–10

As I seek the Savior, I will find Him.

You might use the story of Zacchaeus to help the children think of things they can do to come closer to the Savior.

Possible Activities

• Read Luke 19:1–10, pausing every few verses to discuss what the verses reveal about Zacchaeus. What did Zacchaeus do so that he could see Jesus? How did he respond when Jesus asked him to come down from the tree? Ask each child to share one reason why they would want to see Jesus. If the Savior came to our city, what would we do to prepare?

• Invite the children to think of people they know who, like Zacchaeus, might be seeking the Savior. Ask the children what they might do to help someone else learn about the Savior.

• Invite the children to share experiences when they felt that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were aware of them and loved them.

Matthew 21:12–14

The temple is a sacred place that I should respect.

How can the account of the Savior cleansing the temple help you teach the children about the sacredness of temples?

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to read Matthew 21:12–14. Show the picture Jesus Cleansing the Temple (Gospel Art Book, no. 51), and ask them which verse is depicted in the picture.

• Invite the children to share how they have felt when they have gone inside a temple, visited temple grounds, or looked at pictures of temples. What helped them know the temple is a sacred place? You might share with the children why you love the temple. Why is it sacred to you?

• Invite one or more youth to come to class and talk about how they have prepared to enter the temple. If they have been to the temple, ask them to talk about how they felt when they were there.

• Cut a picture of a temple into puzzle pieces, and give each child one piece. Ask the children to write on the back of their puzzle piece one thing they can do to prepare to enter the temple. As each child shares an idea, add his or her piece to the puzzle.

• On the board, write the following: can help me prepare to serve in the temple. Invite the children to suggest ways to complete this sentence. Some ideas might include “Keeping my baptismal covenants” or “The Holy Ghost.”

Matthew 23:25–28

Jesus wants me to be righteous in my actions and my desires.

Jesus taught the scribes and Pharisees about the importance of truly living the gospel—not just pretending to be righteous. What would help the children understand this truth?

Possible Activities

• As you read Matthew 23:25–28 with the children, consider sharing this definition of hypocrite from the Bible Dictionary: “One who pretends to be religious when he is not.” Why is it bad to be a hypocrite?

• Show the children a cup that is clean on the outside but dirty on the inside to help illustrate the metaphor in Matthew 23:25. How can we make sure we are clean and pure on the inside?

Encourage Learning at Home

Help the children think of something they learned in class that they can share with their families at home.

Improving Our Teaching

Support the children’s parents. “Parents are the most important gospel teachers for their children—they have both the main responsibility and the greatest power to influence their children (see Deuteronomy 6:6–7). As you teach children at church, prayerfully seek ways to support their parents in their essential role” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 25).