Lesson 53

Wise Men Worship Jesus — Bible Story & Sunday School Lesson for Kids

Matthew 2 

53. Wise Men Worship Jesus

Matthew 2

Lesson Prep During the week, before you teach

Background Scripture Matthew 2 Read it 2–3 times during the week Read passage

Wise Men Worship Jesus Story Summary for Kids

The wise men were also known as Magi or kings from the East.

It is not clear where they came from exactly - the Bible just says from the east. Some believe they came from Persia (modern day Iran), others from Arabia and others Babylon, since they were noted astronomers. 

The Bible is clear that three different gifts were brought to Jesus, but it never says there were only three wise men. It is possible that there were many more.

As with the other stories around Jesus' birth, an angel is key to this story. An angel appeared to Joseph to warn him that they were not safe in Israel because of King Herod. Because of this dream, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fled to Egypt.  

Herod became enraged that he had been tricked by the wise men, and ordered that all baby boys under 2 years old be killed (this is why it is commonly accepted that Jesus was between 1 and 2 years old when the wise men visited, not in the manger scene).

After some time, an angel appeared to Joseph to tell him that it was safe to return to Israel, and then again to Nazareth.

Notice the parallels and contrasts in this story and the story of the Israelite exodus from Egypt:

  • In the Old Testament, Jacob's family went to Egypt to escape a famine. In the New Testament, Joseph led his family to Egypt to escape King Herod.
  • In the Old Testament, all the firstborn sons and animals in Egypt were killed in the last plague. Only the Israelite boys were spared. In the New Testament, all the baby boys around Bethlehem  were killed due to King Herod's jealousy. Jesus was spared.
  • In the Old Testament, the Israelites stayed in Egypt for hundreds of years. In the New Testament, Joseph's family only stayed in Egypt for a couple years (it is not specified, but it is not long)
  • In the Old Testament, Moses led his people through the desert for 40 years before Joshua led them into the promised land - a journey that took over 40 years. In the New Testament, Joseph led his family back into Israel - a journey that did not take very long.
My Notes
Unlock with Ministry Edition

What You Will Need

Snack

Any snack that can be cut into the shape of stars (crackers, finger jello, etc)

Video Options

The Story of Christmas - Wise Men Worship Jesus

From Saddleback Kids

God's Story - The Whole Christmas Story

From Crossroads Kids Club

Resource Sheet

Wise Men Worship Jesus Coloring Sheet
Wise Men Worship Jesus Coloring Sheet

This coloring sheet depicts the wise men visiting Jesus as a toddler

Lesson In class, six steps

1Warm Up get your kids talking and engaged

Do you like looking at the stars at night? Have you ever seen a constellation? Have you ever noticed that some stars are brighter than others? Today, we're going to learn about an incredibly special star, and some men who were expert star watchers.

2Teach the Story teach a holistic story

Older students can be read to directly from the Bible, since the story is short. 

The youngest students can be told the story from a children's storybook Bible.

3Bible Mastery give them basic Bible skills

Kids read aloud Matthew 2:1-12 Read passage

4Comprehension Questions make sure they understand the story

First, ask the children if they have any questions about the story. What to do if you don't know the answer?

  • Who came and brought gifts for Jesus?
  • The wise men
  • How did the Wise Men find Jesus?
  • They followed a very bright star.
  • Why was King Herod jealous and upset?
  • The wise men said that a new king of the Jews had been born
  • After they found Jesus, what did the wise men do?
  • They went home a different way, and did not return to Herod
  • Who told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt?
  • An angel
  • Why did they need to go to Egypt?
  • King Herod was jealous and was ordering all Jewish boys to be killed to try and kill Jesus
  • Who told Joseph to return with his family to Israel?
  • An angel
  • When King Herod died where did Joseph take Mary and Jesus?
  • To live in Nazareth

5Faith Questions open up a conversation about faith and the gospel; close with prayer

  • In this story, the wise men brought gifts to Jesus because they recognized that he was a very special baby.
  • What gifts can you give Jesus this Christmas season?

6Memory Verse hide God's Word in their heart

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Crafts, Games, and Activities for Wise Men Worship Jesus After the Lesson, give them a catalyst to remember the Story

16 activities

All 16 activities below are free to use with no sign-up — complete with instructions, supply lists, and an age label for all-ages, early elementary, or late elementary classes.

Crafts

7

Cut out and color two cardstock stars, slit them, and slide them together so the star stands up.

Cardstock, markers (yellow preferably), +1

Standing Star

All Crafts

Cut out and color two cardstock stars, slit them, and slide them together so the star stands up.

They asked, "Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? When we were in the east, we saw his star. Now we have come to worship him." Matthew 2:2

Supplies

  • Cardstock
  • markers (yellow preferably)
  • scissors

Instructions

  • Cut out two star shapes.
  • Color and decorate, if desired.
  • Cut a slit through both stars.
  • Slide one on top of another.

Photos

Turn two egg carton cups into a camel with pipe-cleaner legs, head and neck.

egg cartons (need 2 sections per student), 2 pipe cleaners per student, +1

Egg Carton Camel

All Crafts

Turn two egg carton cups into a camel with pipe-cleaner legs, head and neck.

After Jesus' birth, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem. Matthew 2:1

Supplies

  • egg cartons (need 2 sections per student)
  • 2 pipe cleaners per student
  • tape or glue

Instructions

  • Cut out two sections of an egg carton.
  • Cut a pipe cleaner in half and fold for legs.
  • Attach legs with glue or tape to the underside of the egg carton.
  • Fold one end of another pipe cleaner for the camel head.
  • Attach on underside of one end to make the head and neck

Photos

Join dots on a star sheet into your own constellation and name it, like the wise men who studied the stars.

Star sheet, printed for each student, +1

Make Your Own Constellation

All Crafts

Join dots on a star sheet into your own constellation and name it, like the wise men who studied the stars.

Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem. They asked, "Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? When we were in the east, we saw his star. Now we have come to worship him." Matthew 2:1-2

Supplies

  • Star sheet
  • printed for each student
  • pencils

Instructions

  • Have students create their own constellation using the star sheet provided.
  • Encourage them to be creative in the shapes they create.
  • Have students name their constellation.
  • The wise men were experts in the stars, which is why they knew that this new star was special, and they were able to track the star to Bethlehem.

Links

Star Sheet Printout

Early Elem.

Glue four popsicle sticks into a star, decorate it with glitter, and add ribbon to hang it.

4 popsicle sticks per child, glue (or glue gun), +3

Popsicle star

Early Elem. Crafts

Glue four popsicle sticks into a star, decorate it with glitter, and add ribbon to hang it.

They asked, "Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? When we were in the east, we saw his star. Now we have come to worship him." Matthew 2:2

Supplies

  • 4 popsicle sticks per child
  • glue (or glue gun)
  • markers
  • glitter glue or glitter
  • ribbon

Instructions

  • Glue two popsicle sticks to form an x.
  • Glue two more and form another x.
  • Attach two x's together to make a star shape.
  • Decorate stars with markers and glitter
  • Attach ribbon, if desired, to create an ornament

Late Elem.

Fold paper into an origami star using the linked instructions.

paper

Star Origami

Late Elem. Crafts

Fold paper into an origami star using the linked instructions.

They asked, "Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? When we were in the east, we saw his star. Now we have come to worship him." Matthew 2:2

Supplies

  • paper

Instructions

  • Follow directions to make an origami star

Links

Origami Star instructions

Late Elem.

Draw a wise man step by step with markers, following the linked video.

Markers, Paper

Step by Step Drawing of a Wise Man

Late Elem. Crafts

Draw a wise man step by step with markers, following the linked video.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. This happened while Herod was king of Judea. After Jesus’ birth, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem. Matthew 2:1

Supplies

  • Markers
  • Paper

Instructions

  • Give each child a piece of paper and a marker
  • Follow the step by step instructions in the video below to draw a Wise Man

Links

Step by Step Drawing Video

Cut a cardboard star and wrap its center and each point with colorful yarn to make an ornament.

cardboard, colorful yarn, +1 Shared by a teacher

Star Ornament

All Crafts Shared by a teacher · December 14, 2015

Cut a cardboard star and wrap its center and each point with colorful yarn to make an ornament.

They asked, "Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? When we were in the east, we saw his star. Now we have come to worship him." Matthew 2:2

Supplies

  • cardboard
  • colorful yarn
  • glue

Instructions

  • Cut star shape out of cardboard
  • Wrap middle with yarn and glue end down
  • Wrap each point of star individually and glue ends down.

Links

On the web

Games

5

Take turns sifting a bucket of dirt for fool's gold, then look up what real gold is worth.

iron pyrite (fool's gold), bucket, +2

Sifting for Gold

All Games

Take turns sifting a bucket of dirt for fool's gold, then look up what real gold is worth.

Heads up. Fool's gold can be purchased online at Amazon.com
The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary. They gave him gold. Matthew 2:11

Supplies

  • iron pyrite (fool's gold)
  • bucket
  • dirt
  • sifter

Instructions

  • Place fool's gold and dirt in the bucket
  • Have students take turns and sift for the fool's gold
  • Would they be excited to receive this as a gift?
  • Help them understand how valuable gold is.
  • Look up the latest price for an ounce of gold

Do each character's motion, like rocking a baby for Mary or bowing with a gift, as the leader calls names.

No supplies

Action Game

All Games

Do each character's motion, like rocking a baby for Mary or bowing with a gift, as the leader calls names.

They asked, "Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? When we were in the east, we saw his star. Now we have come to worship him." Matthew 2:2

Supplies

No supplies needed

Instructions

  • Mary- rock a baby
  • Joseph- pound with a hammer
  • Angel- arms out to make wings
  • Shepherd- stand still and hold a pretend staff
  • Wise Men- bow down with a gift
  • Leader calls out a name and kids have to perform the action. Move faster as they get better with remembering motions.

Wrap a small box as neatly as you can, with an optional prize for the best-wrapped gift.

wrapping paper, tape, +2

Gift Wrapping Game

All Games

Wrap a small box as neatly as you can, with an optional prize for the best-wrapped gift.

Heads up. This activity can be done along with the Presenting Your Gifts Activity
They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures. They gave him gold, incense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

Supplies

  • wrapping paper
  • tape
  • small boxes
  • wrapped gift for the winner (optional)

Instructions

  • Provide each child with a box, wrapping paper and tape.
  • Have them wrap their “gift” to the best of their ability.
  • If desired,  provide a wrapped gift as a prize for the child with the best wrapped gift. 

Early Elem.

Find the hidden baby Jesus as classmates say the star is getting brighter or dimmer.

Jesus figure or printable

Hot and Cold Wise Men Game

Early Elem. Games

Find the hidden baby Jesus as classmates say the star is getting brighter or dimmer.

After Jesus' birth, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem. They asked, "Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? When we were in the east, we saw his star. Now we have come to worship him. Matthew 2:1-2

Supplies

  • Jesus figure or printable

Instructions

  • This is a spin-off from the game of hot or cold (hot if close to object, cold if far away)
  • One person is chosen to be the wise man.
  • Ask the wise man to leave the room while the rest of the class hide Jesus.
  • The wise man comes back into room.
  • The wise man must find Jesus.
  • As the wise man gets closer to Jesus, instead of saying "you're getting warmer", the class should say "the star is getting brighter". 
  • And instead of saying "you're getting colder", the class should say "the star is getting dimmer".

Early Elem.

Follow a paper star on a flashlight around a darkened room, climbing over chairs and zigzagging.

Flashlight, star cut out of paper

Follow the Star

Early Elem. Games

Follow a paper star on a flashlight around a darkened room, climbing over chairs and zigzagging.

Heads up. This activity works best in a room without windows that can be darkened during the day
After the Wise Men had listened to the king, they went on their way. The star they had seen when they were in the east went ahead of them. It finally stopped over the place where the child was. Matthew 2:9

Supplies

  • Flashlight
  • star cut out of paper

Instructions

  • Attach a star to the end of a flashlight
  • Have students follow the star, as you shine it around the room.
  • Make them climb over a chair, walk in zig zags, etc.

Story & Reflection

2

Late Elem.

Look at samples or pictures of gold, frankincense and myrrh and learn what each was used for.

samples of gold, frankincense and myrrh

About the Gifts

Late Elem. Story & Reflection

Look at samples or pictures of gold, frankincense and myrrh and learn what each was used for.

The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures. They gave him gold, incense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

Supplies

  • samples of gold
  • frankincense and myrrh

Instructions

You can purchase examples of frankincense and myrrh online. Or you can show pictures on a laptop or tablet.

Frankincense

Frankincense is a milky white resin extracted from Boswellia trees, which thrive in arid, cool areas of the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa and India.

  • In a time before daily bathing, people would use the sweet smoke from the resin to make themselves smell better. 
  • Egyptian women utilized the ash of frankincense for personal use as well, mixing it into their eye shadow. 
  • This substance was also widely used in religious ceremonies and burials.

Myrrh

Myrrh is an expensive spice, used for making perfume, incense, medicine, and for anointing the dead.

  • Myrrh comes from a small bushy tree, cultivated in ancient times in the Arabian peninsula. 
  • The grower made a small cut in the bark, where the resin would leak out. 
  • It was then collected and stored for about three months until it hardened into fragrant globules. 
  • Myrrh was used raw or crushed and mixed with oil to make a perfume. It was also used medicinally to reduce swelling and stop pain.

Gold

Gold is a soft, yellow, corrosion-resistant element, the most malleable metal, recovered by mining or by panning. 

  • It is often used for jewelry and decoration.
  • Gold has been used as currency (represents something of value that can be bought or sold) for over 3000 years

Late Elem.

Write on an index card what you'd give Jesus, wrap it, and open it at home on Christmas morning.

gift bags, tissue paper or wrapping paper, +1 Shared by a teacher

Presenting your gift

Late Elem. Story & Reflection Shared by a teacher · December 23, 2012

Write on an index card what you'd give Jesus, wrap it, and open it at home on Christmas morning.

Heads up. This activity can be done along with the Gift Wrapping Game Activity
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. Matthew 2:11

Supplies

  • gift bags
  • tissue paper or wrapping paper
  • index cards

Instructions

  • Discuss what gifts we can give to Jesus (ourselves through salvation, monetary giving, reaching out to a peer that could use a friend, etc)
  • Give each student an index card.
  • Ask them to take a few moments to write on the card what they would like to give Jesus.
  • Wrap card in wrapping paper or gift bag.
  • Allow students to share their gift, if they would like.
  • Instruct each student to take their present home and place it under the Christmas tree
  • On Christmas morning, they should unwrap the gift and remember their gift to Jesus.
  • If you are teaching this lesson after Christmas, encourage the students to pack their gift away with their decorations to open the following Christmas season to reflect on how they have grown in that area.

Worksheets

2

Early Elem.

Draw lines between numbered dots on a printout to reveal a star.

connect the dots printout

Connect the Dots Star

Early Elem. Worksheets

Draw lines between numbered dots on a printout to reveal a star.

After the Wise Men had listened to the king, they went on their way. The star they had seen when they were in the east went ahead of them. It finally stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. Matthew 2:9-10

Supplies

  • connect the dots printout

Instructions

  • Connect the dots on the resource sheet to create a star.

Links

Connect the Dots Start Printout

Late Elem.

Trace Mary and Joseph's travels in one color and the wise men's journey in another on a map of Israel.

map of Israel, different colored markers

Map Their Journey

Late Elem. Worksheets

Trace Mary and Joseph's travels in one color and the wise men's journey in another on a map of Israel.

he star they had seen when they were in the east went ahead of them. It finally stopped over the place where the child was.” Matthew 2:9

Supplies

  • map of Israel
  • different colored markers

Instructions

  • Trace the journey Mary and Joseph took, using one color of marker
    •  Nazareth to Bethlehem 
    • Bethlehem to Jerusalem (to present Jesus at the Temple)
    • Back to Bethlehem 
    • From Bethlehem to Egypt
    • Egypt to Nazareth. 
  • Trace the Wise Men's journey with a different color
    • From the East (possibly Persia, Babylon or Arabia) to Jerusalem
    • Jerusalem to Bethlehem
    • Bethlehem back to the East

Links

Map of Israel
Planning this week's class?Pick activities, get one supply list, and print your picks with the lesson.
See Ministry Edition

Running a kids’ ministry or Sunday school?

Ministry Edition gives your whole team lesson scheduling and teacher tools — all in one place.

Schedule your whole year Teacher scheduling NEW Automatic lesson emails NEW Multiple age groups Email your teachers Parent portal Print-ready PDFs
See How It Works Sign In
PDF