Single lesson
Jesus Is Rejected in His Hometown
Matthew 13:53–58; Mark 6:1–6
Jesus returned to his own country and taught in the synagogue, but the people did not respond well. In this lesson, children trace what happened, notice the people’s choices, and learn what these verses show about Jesus and people.
Before you teach
Matthew says this happened after Jesus finished the parables. Matthew and Mark both show Jesus coming to his own country and teaching in the synagogue. The people were astonished at his wisdom and mighty works, yet they were offended and did not believe. Jesus then spoke about a prophet lacking honour in his own country and house, and Mark says he kept teaching in the villages.
Students will be able to put the account in order, describe the people’s unbelief and its outcome, and state one truth from the passage about Jesus, such as that he taught with wisdom, did mighty works, healed people, or continued teaching.
Welcome: What happened when Jesus came home?
4 minBegin by telling the children that today’s Bible reading shows Jesus returning to his own country. Ask them to listen for where Jesus went, what he did there, and how people reacted. Explain that both Matthew and Mark say he taught in the synagogue, and people were astonished at what they heard about his wisdom and mighty works.
Matthew 13:54, Mark 6:1, Mark 6:2
Read and explain: Astonished, then offended
8 minRead the verses aloud. Point out the order in the story. Jesus came to his own country, taught in the synagogue, and the people asked where his wisdom and mighty works came from. They named members of his family and then were offended at him. Explain that offended here shows they rejected him rather than honouring him.
Matthew 13:54, Matthew 13:55, Matthew 13:56, Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:2, Mark 6:3
Discuss: What does this passage show about Jesus?
6 minAsk children to name what the verses say about Jesus himself. The crowd noticed his wisdom and mighty works. Mark also says he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. Even after this rejection, he went around the villages teaching. Then read Jesus’ words about a prophet lacking honour in his own country and house.
Matthew 13:54, Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:2, Mark 6:4, Mark 6:5, Mark 6:6
Make and respond: Sequence cards of the account
8 minChildren make simple cards for key moments, then place them in order: Jesus came home, he taught, people were astonished, they spoke about his family, they were offended, and Jesus spoke about honour. Add the outcomes carefully: Matthew says not many mighty works because of unbelief; Mark says he healed a few sick people and kept teaching.
Matthew 13:54, Matthew 13:57, Matthew 13:58, Mark 6:5, Mark 6:6
Closing: What will we remember about Jesus and people?
4 minReview the learning goal together. Ask children to say one choice made by the people, one result named in the passage, and one true thing these verses show about Jesus. Finish by noting that, in Mark, Jesus went around the villages teaching, so the lesson ends with Jesus continuing his work.
Matthew 13:58, Mark 6:5, Mark 6:6
Questions to explore
What did the people notice about Jesus when he taught in the synagogue, and what does that show about him?
Look for the words about wisdom, mighty works, and the people being astonished when they heard him teach.
Matthew 13:54, Mark 6:2
How did the people’s words about Jesus’ family connect with their response to him?
After naming his mother, brothers, and sisters, both accounts say they were offended at him.
Matthew 13:55, Matthew 13:56, Matthew 13:57, Mark 6:3
What happened next in this passage, and what does that show about Jesus after rejection?
Matthew says there were not many mighty works there because of unbelief, and Mark says he healed a few sick people and then went around the villages teaching.
Matthew 13:58, Mark 6:5, Mark 6:6
Make, think or respond
Hometown Story Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or card
- Pencils or crayons
- Scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Read the account again and list 6 to 7 key moments from the passage as a group.
- Have each child draw one moment on a small card, such as Jesus teaching, the people asking questions, or Jesus speaking about honour.
- Place the cards on the floor or table and work together to arrange them in the order the passage gives.
- Ask children to retell the account using the ordered cards and include one thing the passage shows about Jesus.
This activity helps children sequence the account, notice the choices and outcomes, and identify truths the passage states about Jesus, including his teaching in the synagogue, the people being offended, his words about honour, Matthew’s report about unbelief, and Mark’s report that he healed a few sick people and kept teaching in the villages in Matthew 13:54, Matthew 13:57, Matthew 13:58, Mark 6:5, Mark 6:6.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare the key moments orally and let them choose between two cards at a time to build the sequence more simply.
- For older children in the group, ask them to compare one wording from Matthew with one wording from Mark, such as Jesus’ saying about honour, the mighty works, or what Jesus did next.
An optional closing prayer
You could pray: “Lord Jesus, thank you for your wisdom, your mighty works, and your teaching. Help us listen carefully to your word and respond to you with faith. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 13
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there.
54 Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?
55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
56 Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?”
57 They were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.”
58 He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Mark 6
1 He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him.
2 When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands?
3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offended at him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.”
5 He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6 He marveled because of their unbelief. He went around the villages teaching.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.