Single lesson
The Beatitudes: What Jesus Calls Blessed
Matthew 5:1–12
Jesus begins this teaching by naming people he calls blessed. In these words, he speaks about mercy, peace, gentleness, sorrow, and standing firm when people oppose his followers.
Before you teach
In this passage, Jesus sees the multitudes, goes up onto the mountain, sits down, and his disciples come to him. He opens his mouth and teaches them. He gives a series of blessings, naming different people and the promises connected to them.
Students will be able to identify at least three groups Jesus calls blessed in Matthew 5:1–12 and describe one text-based application about mercy, peace, or gentleness.
Welcome: Who does Jesus call blessed?
5 minBegin by asking children what they notice about the kinds of people Jesus names as blessed. Explain that Jesus is teaching his disciples. Point out that he names the poor in spirit, those who mourn, and the gentle. These are the groups Jesus mentions at the start of his teaching here.
Matthew 5:1, Matthew 5:2, Matthew 5:3, Matthew 5:4, Matthew 5:5
Read and explain: The first four blessings
7 minRead the blessings in Matthew 5:3, Matthew 5:4, Matthew 5:5, and Matthew 5:6 slowly. Explain the wording carefully. The text speaks of the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the gentle, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Jesus also gives a promise to each of these groups.
Matthew 5:3, Matthew 5:4, Matthew 5:5, Matthew 5:6
Discuss: Mercy, purity, and peacemaking
6 minFocus on three blessings children can see clearly in the passage. Jesus says the merciful obtain mercy, the pure in heart shall see God, and peacemakers shall be called children of God. As a class observation and application, discuss how these verses draw attention to inward character and actions that make peace.
Matthew 5:7, Matthew 5:8, Matthew 5:9
Make and respond: Peacemaker hands
8 minChildren make a simple reminder craft and connect it to the passage. Write one Beatitude word on each paper hand, such as gentle, merciful, pure in heart, or peacemaker. Ask each child to choose one word from the blessings already read and name one action that could fit it, making clear that the action is the class application.
Matthew 5:5, Matthew 5:7, Matthew 5:8, Matthew 5:9
Closing: Blessed when people oppose you
4 minFinish with Matthew 5:10, Matthew 5:11, and Matthew 5:12. Jesus also calls people blessed when they are persecuted for righteousness' sake and when others speak falsely against them for his sake. As a class takeaway from Jesus' words, note that his followers are told to rejoice even in opposition.
Matthew 5:10, Matthew 5:11, Matthew 5:12
Questions to explore
Which groups of people are called blessed in the first four blessings?
Look at each line in Matthew 5:3, Matthew 5:4, Matthew 5:5, and Matthew 5:6 and list the people Jesus names.
Matthew 5:3, Matthew 5:4, Matthew 5:5, Matthew 5:6
What does Jesus promise to the merciful and to the peacemakers?
Read the end of Matthew 5:7 and Matthew 5:9 and match each group with the promise Jesus gives.
Matthew 5:7, Matthew 5:9
How does Jesus tell his listeners to respond when people insult or persecute them for his sake?
Matthew 5:12 gives the response directly, and it also gives the reason for that response.
Matthew 5:11, Matthew 5:12
Make, think or respond
Peacemaker Hands Reminder
What you’ll need
- coloured paper or plain paper
- pencils or markers
- scissors
- tape or glue
Try it together
- Trace and cut out a paper hand for each child.
- Write one word from the passage on the hand, such as gentle, merciful, pure in heart, or peacemaker.
- On the fingers, add short action ideas such as share, forgive, tell the truth, or help calm an argument, making clear these are class applications from the discussion.
- Display the hands on a wall or take them home as reminders of Jesus' teaching.
This activity helps children remember that Jesus calls the gentle, the merciful, and peacemakers blessed in Matthew 5:5, Matthew 5:7, and Matthew 5:9.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, choose only three Beatitudes to explain and use simple matching words such as mourn-comforted, gentle-blessed, and peacemaker-child of God.
- For older or confident readers, let them read the verses aloud in pairs and sort each blessing into people named and promise given.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: Lord Jesus, please help us listen to your teaching. Help us be gentle, merciful, and ready to make peace. Teach us to love what is right and to stay faithful to you. Amen.
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 5
1 Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
Source passages
Something to make together
These activities connect with the passage. Choose one that suits your group and the time you have.
