Single lesson
Jeremiah and the Rechabites
Jeremiah 35:1–19
In this lesson, children trace how Jeremiah brought the Rechabites to Yahweh’s house, offered them wine, and heard their answer. They will compare the Rechabites’ obedience to Judah’s refusal to listen to Yahweh.
Before you teach
Jeremiah 35 begins with a word from Yahweh to Jeremiah during the days of Jehoiakim king of Judah. Jeremiah is told to bring the Rechabites into Yahweh’s house and give them wine. Their response becomes a message for the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
Students will be able to sequence Jeremiah 35:1-19, identify the Rechabites’ choice and Judah’s choice, and explain that this passage contrasts obedience with refusing to listen.
Welcome: Hear the big contrast
4 minSay that today’s story has two groups making different choices. One group is the house of the Rechabites, whom Jeremiah brings into Yahweh’s house. The other group is the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who are later challenged about listening to Yahweh’s words. Briefly introduce the aim: notice what each group does and what follows.
Jeremiah 35:2, Jeremiah 35:13
Read and explain: The Rechabites refuse the wine
8 minRead verses 1 to 11 aloud. Explain the order clearly: Yahweh speaks to Jeremiah, Jeremiah brings the Rechabites into a room in Yahweh’s house, sets bowls and cups of wine before them, and tells them to drink. They refuse because Jonadab son of Rechab commanded them not to drink wine, not to build houses, and to live in tents. They say they have obeyed these commands.
Jeremiah 35:1, Jeremiah 35:2, Jeremiah 35:5, Jeremiah 35:6, Jeremiah 35:7, Jeremiah 35:8, Jeremiah 35:10, Jeremiah 35:11
Discuss: What message does Yahweh give?
7 minRead verses 12 to 17. Help the children spot the comparison in the passage itself. The Rechabites obey the command of their father, but Yahweh says Judah has not listened to him, even though he has spoken and sent his servants the prophets. Discuss what the text says about listening, returning from evil ways, and not going after other gods.
Jeremiah 35:12, Jeremiah 35:13, Jeremiah 35:14, Jeremiah 35:15, Jeremiah 35:16, Jeremiah 35:17
Make and respond: Sequence cards of the account
7 minChildren make simple sequence cards showing the main parts of the chapter: Yahweh’s instruction, Jeremiah bringing the Rechabites, the cups of wine, their refusal, Yahweh’s message to Judah, and Yahweh’s word to the Rechabites. As they order the cards, ask them to name the choice and outcome connected with each part.
Jeremiah 35:2, Jeremiah 35:5, Jeremiah 35:6, Jeremiah 35:13, Jeremiah 35:17, Jeremiah 35:18, Jeremiah 35:19
Closing: Outcomes in the passage
4 minFinish by reading verses 18 and 19. Point out that Jeremiah speaks a concluding word to the house of the Rechabites because they obeyed Jonadab’s command and kept his precepts. Review the chapter’s contrast one more time: the Rechabites obeyed, Judah did not listen, and Yahweh spoke different outcomes to each.
Jeremiah 35:18, Jeremiah 35:19, Jeremiah 35:16, Jeremiah 35:17
Questions to explore
Why did the Rechabites refuse to drink the wine Jeremiah set before them?
Look for their own explanation in the passage and list the commands they say Jonadab gave them.
Jeremiah 35:5, Jeremiah 35:6, Jeremiah 35:7
What does Yahweh say Judah and Jerusalem had failed to do?
Listen for repeated words about hearing, listening, and answering in Yahweh’s message.
Jeremiah 35:13, Jeremiah 35:14, Jeremiah 35:15, Jeremiah 35:17
What different outcomes are spoken to Judah and to the Rechabites at the end of the chapter?
Compare the words of judgement in verse 17 with the word spoken to the Rechabites in verses 18 and 19.
Jeremiah 35:17, Jeremiah 35:18, Jeremiah 35:19
Make, think or respond
Jeremiah 35 Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or scrap card
- pencils or textas
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Draw six simple cards for key moments in the chapter: the command to bring the Rechabites, the room in Yahweh’s house, the wine and cups, the refusal, Yahweh’s message to Judah, and Yahweh’s word to the Rechabites.
- Write a short label or verse reference on each card.
- Mix the cards up and have the children place them in order as the chapter is retold.
- Ask them to point to one card that shows obedience and one card that shows refusal to listen, then explain their choices from the text.
This activity helps children follow the order of Jeremiah 35:1-19 and notice the choices and outcomes that the passage highlights.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare the six card headings for them and let them add simple drawings before ordering the cards.
- For older or more confident readers, ask them to add a short sentence from each chosen verse to the matching card.
An optional closing prayer
“God, please help us to listen carefully to your words and to respond rightly to what you say. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Jeremiah 35
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,
2 “Go to the house of the Rechabites, and speak to them, and bring them into Yahweh’s house, into one of the rooms, and give them wine to drink.”
3 Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, with his brothers, all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;
4 and I brought them into Yahweh’s house, into the room of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was by the room of the princes, which was above the room of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the threshold.
5 I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups; and I said to them, “Drink wine!”
6 But they said, “We will drink no wine; for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, neither you nor your children, forever.
7 You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, or have any; but all your days you shall dwell in tents, that you may live many days in the land in which you live as nomads.’
8 We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters;
9 and not to build houses for ourselves to dwell in. We have no vineyard, field, or seed;
10 but we have lived in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.
11 But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, we said, ‘Come! Let’s go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians; so we will dwell at Jerusalem.’ ”
12 Then Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah, saying,
13 “Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction to listen to my words?” says Yahweh.
14 “The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab that he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; and to this day they drink none, for they obey their father’s commandment; but I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking, and you have not listened to me.
15 I have sent also to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Every one of you must return now from his evil way, amend your doings, and don’t go after other gods to serve them. Then you will dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers;’ but you have not inclined your ear, nor listened to me.
16 The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father which he commanded them, but this people has not listened to me.” ’
17 “Therefore Yahweh, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them, but they have not heard; and I have called to them, but they have not answered.’ ”
18 Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according to all that he commanded you,’
19 therefore Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jonadab the son of Rechab will not lack a man to stand before me forever.’ ”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.