Matthew chapter 4: Jesus fasts forty days and is tempted—He begins His ministry, calls disciples, and heals the sick.
Luke chapter 4: Jesus fasts forty days and is tempted by the devil—Jesus announces His divine sonship in Nazareth and is rejected—He casts out a devil in Capernaum, heals Peter’s mother-in-law, and preaches and heals throughout Galilee.
Luke chapter 5: Peter, the fisherman, is called to catch men—Jesus heals a leper—He forgives sins and heals a paralytic—Matthew is called—The sick need a physician—New wine must be put in new bottles.
I can choose the right as Jesus did.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 4; Luke 4–5” Little children “cannot sin” (Doctrine and Covenants 29:47). However, the account of Jesus resisting Satan’s temptations can inspire the children to choose the right.
- Tell the story of Jesus’s temptations from Matthew 4:1–11. (See also “Chapter 11: Jesus Is Tempted,” in New Testament Stories, 30–31, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.) At appropriate points in the story, ask, “What do you think Jesus should do?”
- Display a picture of Jesus Christ, and then describe choices a young child might make. Ask the children to take a step toward the picture each time you describe a good choice. Ask them to take a step away from it each time you describe a bad choice.(See Situation Ideas listed below)
- Help the children learn the words to a song about making good choices, such as “Choose the Right Way” (Children’s Songbook, 160–61). Use pictures, objects, or other visual aids that relate to the lyrics.
- “Always Ready” (February 2012 Friend)
Jeffrey tells of the many temptations he had throughout his day and what helped him choose the right.
Jesus set the example for me by resisting temptation.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 4; Luke 4–5” Even Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan, but He never gave in. How can you help the children follow His example?
- Make a chart on the board labeled Satan’s Temptations and Jesus’s Responses. Help the children fill in the chart using Matthew 4:1–11 and Luke 4:1–13. Ask the children how they can follow Jesus’s example.
- 73.)
(Before they starting the above activity, explain that the Joseph Smith Translation corrects the statements in Matthew 4:5, 8 to show that the Spirit, not the devil, took the Savior to the different locations described in these verses (see also Joseph Smith Translation, Luke 4:5 [in Luke 4:5, footnote a]; Luke 4:9 [in Luke 4:9, footnote a]).
- What desire did Satan try to appeal to when he tempted Jesus, who had been fasting, to turn the stones into bread? (He tried to appeal to the desire to satisfy physical appetite.)
- What was false about Satan’s offer to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world? (Satan promised rewards that were not his to give and that he could not provide.)
- What else does this account illustrate about the devil’s strategies to tempt us to sin? (Satan targets our weakest or most vulnerable areas and repeatedly tempts us.)
- What was similar about the Savior’s responses to each temptation? (Jesus responded to each of Satan’s temptations by quoting from the scriptures.)
- Write down some scenarios in which a child might be tempted to make a wrong choice. Let a child select one to read, and ask the children to talk about how they could resist temptation in that situation.
Situation Ideas
1 Your friends have invited you to a movie. When you get there, you realize that it is not a good, wholesome one. Your friends decide to see it anyway. What choice will you make?
2 Someone wants you to try drugs, smoke, or drink alcoholic beverages, saying that using such things will make you feel good. Will you do it to see if he is right?
3 You break the cookie jar while getting some cookies. Your mother asks you what happened. Will you avoid the blame by telling her that you don’t know who broke it?
4 Some of your friends swear. Will you swear, too, so that you can be more acceptable to the group?
5 Your friends invite you to go to the circus on Sunday after your church meetings are over. What will you tell them?
6 You don’t know an answer on a test at school. You promised your parents that you would try to get a good grade. Will you look at your neighbor’s paper for the right answer?
7 You earn some money to buy a new toy. When you go to pay for it, it costs more than you thought. Will you add your tithing money to what you have saved so that you can buy the toy?
8 Someone tells you some gossip about a friend. Will you pass it on to your other friends?
9 You’re very tired and get into bed before remembering to pray. Will you skip praying for one night?
10 Your brother is being mean and teasing you, and you want to get even with him. What will you do?
11 Your mother asks you to do your chores. Your friends just called you to play a game of ball. Which will you do first?
12 You see a student put some money into his desk at school. Will you take it so that you can buy some candy on the way home?
“Lesson 7: Jesus Christ Was Tempted by Satan,” Primary 7: New Testament Lesson ideas
Give each child a piece of paper. Ask the children to write down three things that they think children their age might be tempted to do that are wrong. Have the children tell you what they wrote down. You might want to list their answers on the chalkboard and discuss the problems they face today.
Fasting can help me feel close to Heavenly Father.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 4; Luke 4–5” Before beginning His ministry, Jesus fasted and “communed with God” (Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 4:2 [in Matthew 4:2, footnote c]). Help the children see how fasting can give them spiritual strength and help them feel close to Heavenly Father.
- Invite a child to read Matthew 4:1–2 using the Joseph Smith Translation revisions found in the footnotes. What did Jesus do to “be with God”? Share how fasting has helped you feel closer to Heavenly Father.
Friend May 2021 “My First Fast” Alice participated in the worldwide fast. It was her first time fasting so she only skipped breakfast. As she said a prayer to break her fast, she felt the Spirit more strongly than ever before.
- Invite children who have fasted before to share their experiences. How would they explain fasting to someone who has never fasted before?
- Write questions about fasting (such as why, when, or how we fast) on pieces of paper, and place them in a bowl. Invite children to pick a question and try to answer it. What experiences can you or the children share about fasting?
Friend Feb 1983 “Why do we Fast”
To help your family learn about fasting, you might use “Fasting and Fast Offerings” in Gospel Topics (topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
Jesus Christ is my Savior.
Summarize Luke 4:14–17 by explaining that after Jesus returned from the wilderness, He began to preach in the synagogues in Galilee. Soon, He returned to His hometown of Nazareth. While there, He stood in a synagogue and read from the book of Isaiah.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 4; Luke 4–5”
Luke 4:18–19 describes Jesus’s mission. How can you help the children appreciate what He has done for them?
- Read Luke 4:18–19 to the children, and explain what Jesus Christ was sent to earth to do (to teach us how to return to Heavenly Father, to comfort us, and to heal people). Share how He has done these things for you.
Friend December 2021 “Carrying Spotty” Abbie got a new puppy. She helped him feel safe when he was scared. She carried him when he was tired. In Primary, Abbie learned that Jesus suffered for us and took upon him our sorrows. He can carry us through our trials. She realized that Jesus helps her kind of like she helps her puppy. He helped her feel safe when she was afraid of the dark. He helped her feel stronger when she was worried.
- Invite a few children to pretend to be confused, sad, or sick. Ask the other children to role-play what they could do to help them. Testify that Jesus Christ came to teach, comfort, and heal us and that we should follow His example.
- Show pictures of Jesus fulfilling His mission (see Gospel Art Book). Ask the children to describe what Jesus is doing in each picture. Also show pictures of people trying to be like Jesus (you might find some in Church magazines). How can we help others receive the Savior’s healing and deliverance?
Friend December 2016 “A Shining Light”
Jesus Christ is my Savior.
Jesus is the Messiah who was sent to heal the brokenhearted and deliver those who are spiritually captive.
Preach the gospel to the poor
Heal the brokenhearted
Preach deliverance to the captives
Recovering of sight to the blind
Set at liberty them that are bruised, (You might also discuss how performing temple ordinances helps bring “deliverance to the captives” (Luke 4:18).)
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 4; Luke 4–5” Ponder how the Savior has blessed your life. How can you help the children better appreciate His influence in their lives?
- Invite a child to come to class prepared to share the account in Luke 4:16–30. It might be helpful to use “Chapter 17: Angry People in Nazareth” (in New Testament Stories, 42–43, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). You could also show the video “Jesus Declares He Is the Messiah” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
Summarize Luke 4:14–17 by explaining that after Jesus returned from the wilderness, He began to preach in the synagogues in Galilee. Soon, He returned to His hometown of Nazareth. While there, He stood in a synagogue and read from the book of Isaiah.
Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 4; Luke 4–5”
Summarize Luke 4:23 by explaining that Jesus knew that the people in Nazareth would challenge Him to prove He was the Messiah by repeating the miracles He had performed in Capernaum.
Explain that Jesus taught those in Nazareth that although there were Israelite widows and lepers, it was two non-Israelites (Gentiles) who experienced miracles.
How was the faith of the widow and Naaman different from the faith of the people in Nazareth?
Point out that Jesus performed very few miracles in Nazareth because the people there generally lacked faith in Him (see Matthew 13:54–58; Mark 6:1–6).
(We must have faith in Jesus that he is our savior and can help us and heal us spiritually.
Invite a student to read Luke 4:28–30 aloud, and ask the class to look for how those in the synagogue responded to Jesus.
- Read Luke 4:18 while the children follow along. Ask them to create a list of things the Savior said He came to do. Invite the children to share examples of times when Christ did these things, either in the scriptures or in their lives.
Preach the gospel to the poor
Heal the brokenhearted
Preach deliverance to the captives
Recovering of sight to the blind
Set at liberty them that are bruised,
Jesus is the Messiah who was sent to heal the brokenhearted and deliver those who are spiritually captive.
- Write on strips of paper the words “Because of Jesus Christ …” Give a paper to each child, and invite them to write how they would complete the phrase. Let them share what they wrote.
Jesus Christ invites us to be “fishers of men.”
“Lesson 9: Jesus Christ Calls His Apostles,” Primary 7: New Testament As you teach these accounts, make sure the children understand that Jesus had many followers, called disciples. When he first called Peter, Andrew, James, and John from their fishing boats, he was calling them to be disciples. From his larger group of disciples he chose twelve men to be his Apostles (see Luke 6:13). He ordained them the same way Apostles are ordained today, by the laying on of hands, and gave them the same authority Apostles have today (see Mark 3:13–15).
Latter Day Kids “I Will Make You Fishers of Men” Lesson ideas
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 4; Luke 4–5” The Savior’s call, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19), applies to everyone, including children.
- Invite two children to pretend to be Simon Peter and Andrew as you read Matthew 4:18–22. Help the children identify what these men gave up to follow Jesus.
- Let the children take turns telling the story from these verses using the picture below and in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families.
Fishers of Men: A Bible Story for Children Video
- Sing together a song about following Jesus Christ, such as “I Will Follow God’s Plan” (Children’s Songbook, 164). Help the children find things mentioned in the song that they can do to follow Jesus.
- Use this week’s activity page to discuss with the children how they can be “fishers of men” by following Jesus. You could also play a matching game with the activity page. Cut out two copies of each fish, place them facedown, and invite the children to turn them over one at a time to make a match.
Friend August 2006 “The Fishermen” Jenny was her grandpa’s fishing buddy. One day when they weren’t catching anything, her grandpa told her the story of time when other fishermen weren’t catching anything and Jesus helped them fill their nets with fish. Then he called the fishermen to be fishers of men and explained to Jenn what it means to be a fisher of men.
Jesus Christ invites us to follow Him and to be “fishers of men.”
Follow Me, and I Will Make You Fishers of Men video
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 4; Luke 4–5” There are many ways children can follow the Savior and be “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). How will you help them see the good influence they can be on others?
- Invite the children to read Matthew 4:18–22 and Luke 5:1–11. How did Jesus’s disciples respond to His call to follow Him? What can we do to follow their example?
- Show the children some fishing equipment or a picture of a fisherman. What does it mean to be “fishers of men”? What tools do we have to help us be fishers of men?
Friend October 2022 “Fishing Game”
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20”
Friend February 2023 “Come, Follow Me Activities: Follow the Leader”
Story: Jesus Christ called two fishermen, Peter and Andrew, to follow Him. They left their fishing nets behind and served with Jesus. (See Matthew 4:18–20.)
Song: “I Will Follow God’s Plan” (Children’s Songbook, 164–65)
Activity: Play this game: One person chooses an action. All the others copy the action. Then someone else chooses a new action. All the others do the first action, then the second. Keep adding actions and see how many you can do without forgetting any.
I Want to Follow Jesus Video
Friend November 2017 “I Want to Follow Jesus”
New Testament Coloring Book “Fishers of Men”
The Red Crystal Lesson aids.
New Testament Seminary Teacher Manual
Invite a student to read Luke 5:27–28 aloud, and ask the class to look for the Savior’s invitation to Levi. Ask students to report what they find.
- What impresses you about how Levi responded to the Savior’s invitation?
Remind students that Levi was also called Matthew (see Matthew 9:9). He was a publican, meaning he collected taxes from his fellow Jews for the Roman government. The Jews generally hated publicans and viewed them as outcasts, sinners, and even traitors to the nation of Israel. Summarize Luke 5:29–35 by explaining that while Jesus was eating with Levi and others, the scribes and Pharisees condemned Him for eating with sinners. Jesus taught that He came to call sinners to repentance.
Jesus gives the parable of new wine in old bottles
Explain that the Savior used a parable to teach the scribes and Pharisees. Invite a few students to take turns reading aloud from Luke 5:36–39. Ask the class to follow along and look for the objects the Savior used in His parable.
- What objects did the Savior use to teach His parable?
Show students a new piece of cloth and an old piece of cloth with a hole in it. Explain that the “new garment” in verse 36 refers to cloth that had not yet shrunk. One cannot patch an old garment with new cloth because when the new piece shrinks, it would make the hole worse than before. In a similar way, the gospel of Jesus Christ was not just a patching up of old beliefs and practices but a complete restoration of truth.
Invite students to read verse 37, footnote a in the LDS edition of the King James Bible to discover that bottles referred to “leather bags or wineskins,” and if possible, show students pieces of new and old leather.
- What is the difference between new and old leather? (New leather is soft and pliable; old leather is hard and brittle.)
Explain that as new wine fermented in leather bags, gases would build up inside and stretch the leather. Once a wineskin had already been stretched in this way, attempting to ferment new wine in it again would risk bursting it.
In the parable, the new wine represents the Savior’s teachings and the fulness of the everlasting gospel, and the old wine represents the practices, traditions, and beliefs of the Pharisees under the law of Moses.
- In what way could the “old bottles” represent the scribes and Pharisees? (Just as old bottles are too inflexible to hold new wine, the scribes and Pharisees were hard-hearted and unwilling to change to accept the Savior and His teachings.)
- Who could the “new bottles” represent? (Those people who were humble and willing to change to accept the Savior and His teachings.)
- What can we learn from this parable about what we need to do to receive the Savior and His gospel? (Students should identify a principle similar to the following: To accept the Savior and His gospel, we must be humble and willing to change. Invite students to consider writing this principle in the margins of their scriptures next to Luke 5:36–39.)
