Jesus Clears the Temple — and the Children Sing Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “Even the children praised Jesus!”
Jesus came to Jerusalem, riding on a young donkey. Clip, clop! Crowds spread their coats and branches on the road. They shouted, “Hosanna to the son of David!” Hosanna is a word of praise. The son of David means the King God had promised, from King David’s family. Can you wave a pretend branch?
The whole city was stirred up. “Who is this?” the people asked. The crowds said, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Then Jesus went into God’s house, the temple. The temple was a place to pray. But it was full of people buying and selling, like a busy market.
Some people were selling doves, as gifts for God. Coo, coo! Money changers sat at their tables with piles of coins. They changed people’s money into special temple money. Clink, clink!
Jesus drove out all the people who were buying and selling. He turned over the tables of the money changers. Crash! He turned over the seats of the dove sellers too. He did not let anyone carry things through the temple.
Jesus said, “It is written: My house shall be called a house of prayer. But you have made it a den of robbers!” A den of robbers is a hiding place for thieves. God’s house was for talking with God.
Then blind people came to Jesus in the temple. People who could not walk came too. And Jesus healed them! Can you open your eyes wide and jump up high?
Children in the temple began to shout, “Hosanna to the son of David!” Can you shout it too? Hosanna! Even the children praised Jesus!
The chief priests were the leaders of the temple. They and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things Jesus did. They heard the children shouting. And they were angry. They said to Jesus, “Do you hear what these are saying?”
Jesus said to them, “Yes. Did you never read: Out of the mouth of children and nursing babies, you have perfected praise?” Nursing babies are tiny babies who still drink milk from their mothers. Even the children praised Jesus!
Those words come from a song of King David, written long before. They mean: God makes the praise of little children perfect and beautiful.
All the people were amazed at what Jesus taught. The grown-ups listened, and the children shouted, “Hosanna!” Even the children praised Jesus!
Then Jesus left the city. He went to the village of Bethany and stayed there for the night. Bethany was a little village close by, where his friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived.
God’s house is a house of prayer and praise. And God loves to hear even the smallest voices. Even the children praised Jesus!
3. Talk together (3 min)
- Why do you think the children wanted to shout “Hosanna”?
- What do you think the people felt when Jesus healed them?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a line to who said it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“My house shall be called a house of prayer” — Matthew 21:13 (My house → make a roof with your hands; a house of prayer → fold your hands)
Dear Jesus, thank you that you love to hear children praise you. Hosanna to you! Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God loves a house of prayer
Memory verse: “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” — Matthew 21:13 · WEB
The Bible story
Jesus walks into God's great Temple, tips over the noisy money tables, and welcomes the children whose happy songs fill the courtyard with praise.
Talk about it
- Where did Jesus go on this bright morning? — The great Temple
- What was the Temple supposed to be a house of? — A house of prayer
- What were the men doing that made the Temple so noisy? — Buying and selling
- What did Jesus do to the money tables? — Turned them over
- What were some men selling in the Temple? — Doves
- Why did Jesus clear the Temple? — To make room for prayer
Where is Jesus in this story?
Jesus cared so much about God's house that he cleared it out. But he also said something surprising: “Destroy this temple, and I will build it again in three days.” John explains that Jesus was talking about his own body (John 2:19–21). After he rose, Jesus himself became the place where anyone, even a child, can come close to God and be heard.
What God wants to tell us
Jesus showed us that God's house is a place for prayer, kindness and praise, not for greed or noise that pushes God out. He cared enough to make things right, and then he filled the Temple with healing and joy. God shows us that worship is precious, and that he is delighted when we come to him with honest, happy hearts, ready to love him and love the people around us.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank you that your house is a place of prayer and joy. Help me to come to you with a happy, honest heart, just like the children who sang. Thank you that even my small voice makes you smile. Please help me be kind and make room for others to know your love. Amen.
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