Use these Sunday School crafts to help kids the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard found in Matthew 20:1-16. Download the printable directions below, gather your craft supplies, and watch our demonstration video as you prepare to teach.
“The Last Shall Be First” Bible Craft ideas from Matthew 20:1-16
“That’s not fair!!!” Children are often quite concerned with what seems fair to them. The parable of the workers in the vineyard emphasizes that often life does not seem fair or just. It also reminds us that “fair” in God’s eyes is not quite the same as our human understanding. Life isn’t fair, because we don’t deserve the mercy and grace that accompany the Lord’s love and forgiveness, but we receive them anyway!
These crafts remind us of the importance of the cross, and also remind us to be grateful for grace and for whatever we might have. Rather than comparing our situation with others, we can rejoice in the beauty of mercy that comes through Christ.
Bible Verses or Captions to Consider…
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” -Matthew 20:16
The Grass is always greener… be glad for what you have!
Look to the cross…the true and greatest treasure!
Heaven is the ultimate trophy
The Last will be First…Get on your knees to get up!
God is #1
Life’s Not Fair…Thanks be to God!!!
Don’t miss the video demonstration of this craft on our YouTube channel. We also have a full Sunday School lesson on Matthew 20:1-16 and other resources related to the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.
Craft one: “Look to the Cross”
You will need:
- Stickers or other small decorative items
- Glue or tape
- Paper, cardstock, or wooden cross
- Markers or crayons
- Verse caption or extra decoration (optional)
- Pipe cleaner or string
Procedure:
- Decorate the cross with markers, captions, or other decorations.
- Add decorations such as stickers, jewels, glitter, and even google eyes!
- Remind students that the cross is the most meaningful thing in our faith and in our lives.
- Add a string or pipe cleaner if you’d like to make this into a decoration.
Craft Two: “The Last Shall be First” Trophy
You will need:
- Glue and/or tape
- Large cup or paper towel tube
- Scissors
- Caption or verse (Optional)
- Markers or crayons
- Pipe cleaners or crepe streamers
- Extra decorations (optional)
Procedure:
- Decide how you would like to plan and decorate your “trophy.”
- Decorate the cup or tube with verses, stickers, colors, or other items as desired.
- Add streamers, strings, or pipe cleaners.
- Add whatever other embellishments are preferred for the trophy. Make sure to put a verse or cross on top!
Craft Three: “The Grass is Greener” Collage
You will need:
- Construction paper
- Markers or crayons
- Magazines (optional)
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
Procedure:
- Cut a strip of paper to use as a “grass hedge.” Color if needed.
- Glue the “grass” in the center of the paper.
- Using drawings or pictures cut from a magazine, decorate one side of the paper with items that represent things that are positive and children are thankful for. The other side of the paper should have things longed for or desired.
- Add captions and verses.
- Remember the importance of gratitude for what we have, and give thanks to God for His blessings!
Matthew 20:1-16 ESV The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
Bible Verses/story to Reference:
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
-Matthew 20:1-16