For Kids · 4 min with a grown-up
Jesus teaches that God cares most about kind, loving hearts — and that doing good is always the right thing.
Today's Story
One Sabbath day — the special rest day — Jesus went into the place of worship. A man was there whose hand was shriveled and couldn't work. The proud leaders watched closely. They thought helping someone on the rest day was breaking the rules, and they wanted to catch Jesus.
But Jesus asked them a question. “If your sheep fell into a pit on the rest day, wouldn't you lift it out? Of course you would! And a person is worth so much more than a sheep. So it is always right to do good.”
Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man did — and his hand was completely healed!
Jesus taught that God cares more about kind, loving hearts than about just following rules to look good. He said a good tree grows good fruit, and a good heart does good things. What's inside us shows on the outside.
Jesus always did good and showed kindness — even when others tried to stop Him.
A Big Word
Memory Verse
Talk About It
- The leaders cared about rules; Jesus cared about the hurting man. Why does God care most about loving hearts?
- Jesus said it's always right to do good. Can you think of a good thing you could do for someone today?
- Jesus said a good tree grows good fruit. What kind of “fruit” (words and actions) grows from a heart that loves God?