Single lesson
Jesus Heals Peter's Mother-in-Law
Matthew 8:14–17; Mark 1:29–34; Luke 4:38–41
In this lesson, children will read how Matthew, Mark and Luke each report Jesus healing Peter or Simon’s mother-in-law and then describe many others coming to Jesus that evening. They will trace the order and notice what each Gospel says.
Before you teach
These verses appear in three Gospel accounts. Matthew says Jesus came into Peter’s house and saw his wife’s mother sick with a fever. Mark and Luke say Jesus came from the synagogue into Simon’s house. All three report her healing and then describe people being brought to Jesus that evening. Matthew also includes a quotation from Isaiah.
Students will be able to sequence the passage and identify distinct details reported in Matthew, Mark and Luke about what people did and what Jesus did.
Welcome: Listen for the order
4 minIntroduce the lesson by explaining that Matthew, Mark and Luke each tell this account, and we will listen carefully to what each one says. Ask children to listen for three parts: the house, the healing of the mother-in-law, and the people who came that evening.
Matthew 8:14, Mark 1:29, Luke 4:38
Read and explain: What each Gospel says about the healing
8 minRead the healing verses aloud. Matthew says Jesus came into Peter’s house, saw the sick woman, touched her hand, and the fever left her. Mark says they told Jesus about her, and he took her by the hand and raised her up. Luke says they begged him to help her, and he rebuked the fever. In each account, she then served.
Matthew 8:14, Matthew 8:15, Mark 1:30, Mark 1:31, Luke 4:38, Luke 4:39
Discuss: How did people respond?
6 minHelp children name the responses in the passage without mixing the details together. In Mark, they immediately told Jesus about her. In Luke, they begged him to help her. After the healing, Matthew, Mark and Luke each say she served. Later, people brought sick people to Jesus in the evening accounts.
Mark 1:30, Luke 4:38, Matthew 8:15, Mark 1:31, Luke 4:39, Matthew 8:16, Mark 1:32, Luke 4:40
Make and respond: Gospel detail sequence cards
8 minChildren make four sequence cards for the order of the passage: arrival at the house, the sickness, the healing, and the evening crowds. As they work, prompt them to add one Gospel detail beside a card, such as Matthew naming Peter, Mark saying they told Jesus, or Luke saying he rebuked the fever.
Matthew 8:14, Mark 1:29, Mark 1:30, Luke 4:39
Closing: What happened that evening?
4 minRead the evening verses and point out the distinct details. Matthew says many were brought and Jesus healed all who were sick. Mark says all the city was gathered at the door and Jesus healed many. Luke says people brought those with various diseases and Jesus laid his hands on every one of them. Matthew also links this to Isaiah’s words.
Matthew 8:16, Matthew 8:17, Mark 1:32, Mark 1:33, Mark 1:34, Luke 4:40, Luke 4:41
Questions to explore
What did Mark and Luke say the people did when Simon’s mother-in-law was sick?
Look for the verses that say they told Jesus about her in Mark and begged him to help her in Luke.
Mark 1:30, Luke 4:38
What details about Jesus’ action are given in Matthew, Mark and Luke?
Compare the healing verses and list the wording each Gospel uses: touched her hand, took her by the hand and raised her up, and rebuked the fever.
Matthew 8:15, Mark 1:31, Luke 4:39
What different evening details do Matthew, Mark and Luke include?
Notice Matthew’s words about healing all, Mark’s note about the city at the door and healing many, and Luke’s detail that Jesus laid his hands on every one of them.
Matthew 8:16, Mark 1:33, Mark 1:34, Luke 4:40
Make, think or respond
Gospel Detail Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or card
- Pencils or crayons
- Scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Draw four cards for these parts of the passage: arrival at the house, the sick woman, the healing, and the evening crowds.
- Write one short Bible detail on each card from one Gospel account, such as 'Peter’s house', 'they told him', 'rebuked the fever', or 'all the city at the door'.
- Mix the cards and place them in order using the readings.
- Ask children to read their card and say which Gospel detail it shows.
This activity helps children follow the order of the passage and notice that Matthew, Mark and Luke each include specific details about the same account.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare the four card headings for them and let them add simple drawings while you read the verses aloud.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to sort details under three headings: Matthew, Mark and Luke, using the exact wording of the verses.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: 'Lord Jesus, thank you for showing care in these verses. Please help us listen carefully to your word and respond with trust and service. Amen.'
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 8
14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever.
15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her. So she got up and served him.
16 When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
Mark 1
29 Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30 Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.
31 He came and took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left her immediately, and she served them.
32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by demons.
33 All the city was gathered together at the door.
34 He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Luke 4
38 He rose up from the synagogue and entered into Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a great fever, and they begged him to help her.
39 He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she rose up and served them.
40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
41 Demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Rebuking them, he didn’t allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.