Single lesson

The Wise Men Visit Jesus

Matthew 2:1–12

This lesson helps children follow the visit of the wise men step by step, notice the different choices people made, and see how the passage shows honour for Jesus and careful obedience to God.

6–10 years30 minutes

Before you teach

Matthew 2:1–12 begins after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea during the days of King Herod. Wise men arrive in Jerusalem asking for the one born King of the Jews. Herod asks where the Christ would be born, sends them to Bethlehem, and the passage ends with the wise men returning home another way.

Learning aim

Students will be able to retell Matthew 2:1–12 in order, name key choices made by the wise men and Herod, and explain that the wise men worshipped Jesus and obeyed God’s warning.

Welcome: who is looking for the child king?

5 min

Begin by introducing the main people in the passage: the wise men, King Herod, and the child who is called King of the Jews. Tell the children they will listen for what each person or group does. Explain that the wise men came to Jerusalem because they saw his star and came to worship him.

Matthew 2:1, Matthew 2:2

Read and explain: from Jerusalem to Bethlehem

8 min

Read the passage aloud in small parts. Explain that Herod was troubled when he heard about the child king. He asked the chief priests and scribes where the Christ would be born, and they answered from the prophet that it would be Bethlehem of Judea. Help children hear the sequence clearly.

Matthew 2:3, Matthew 2:4, Matthew 2:5, Matthew 2:6

Discuss the choices: Herod and the wise men

6 min

Talk about the different choices in the story. Herod secretly asked when the star appeared and sent the wise men to search for the child. The wise men went on their way after hearing the king. Later, they obeyed the warning in a dream and did not return to Herod.

Matthew 2:7, Matthew 2:8, Matthew 2:9, Matthew 2:12

Make and respond: sequence cards with gifts and joy

7 min

Children make simple sequence cards for the story, drawing key moments such as the star, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, joy, worship, gifts, and the journey home. As they work, remind them that the wise men rejoiced greatly, worshipped Jesus, and offered gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:9, Matthew 2:10, Matthew 2:11, Matthew 2:12

Closing: what this passage teaches

4 min

Finish by asking children to retell the account in order with a partner. Emphasise two clear ideas from the passage: the wise men came to worship Jesus, and when God warned them in a dream, they took a different way home. Invite a short quiet response of thanks to God.

Matthew 2:2, Matthew 2:11, Matthew 2:12

Questions to explore

Why did the wise men come to Jerusalem?

Look for their own words in the passage about the star and their purpose in coming to worship the one born King of the Jews.

Matthew 2:2

What happened after Herod heard about the child?

Follow the steps carefully: he was troubled, asked the chief priests and scribes, and then secretly called the wise men.

Matthew 2:3, Matthew 2:4, Matthew 2:7

How do we know the wise men honoured Jesus and obeyed God?

Notice what they did in the house and what they did after being warned in a dream.

Matthew 2:11, Matthew 2:12

Make, think or respond

Wise Men Story Sequence Cards

What you’ll need

plain paper or card
pencils or crayons
scissors
Bible

Try it together

Read Matthew 2:1–12 and list six to eight key moments from the passage in order.
Children draw one moment on each card, such as the wise men arriving, Herod asking questions, the star leading, the wise men rejoicing, worshipping Jesus, giving gifts, and returning another way.
Mix the cards and have children put them back into the correct order.
Ask each child or pair to retell the story using their ordered cards.

This activity helps children sequence the account and notice the choices and outcomes described in Matthew 2:1–12.

Adapt for your group

For younger children, prepare fewer sequence moments and let them choose between two cards at a time while you reread the matching verse.
For older or more confident children, ask them to sort the cards under headings such as 'searching', 'worshipping', and 'obeying' and explain their choices from the verses.

An optional closing prayer

You could pray: 'God, thank you for this passage about the wise men. Please help us honour Jesus and listen carefully to what you say.'

Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic

Matthew 2

¹ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

² “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”

³ When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

⁴ Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.

⁵ They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,

⁶ ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah; for out of you shall come a governor who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’ ”

⁷ Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.

⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”

⁹ They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was.

¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

¹¹ They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

¹² Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.

World English Bible Classic. Public domain.