Use this children’s sermon to teach about the Parables of the Hidden Treasure in Matthew 13:44-45. Download the teaching notes below and watch our object lesson demonstration as you prepare to teach.
Main Objective: Young children might not quite understand monetary worth, dollar signs, and fiscal price tags. However, they do certainly value some things (play time, toys, etc.) over others (Bible study, school), and sometimes have a difficult time distinguishing between wants and needs. The objective of this lesson is to communicate to kids that God is more precious and wonderful than anything we can imagine on earth. Our “treasures” are nothing compared with His glory, and we can hope in His promises alone.
Law/Gospel Theme: God has given us all that we need. Sometimes we become distracted by things of this world, and we think that we can equip ourselves with earthly “treasures.” But nothing is greater or should be worth more to us than Jesus. His blood is precious and priceless and provides us with salvation and new life. We have the hope of a future in Heaven, aware that it is beyond any richness we might seek in this life.
“What is your treasure?”
Children’s Sermon on the Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl
Optional Materials: Items of various price, either pictures or actual objects. Examples to consider include toys, electronics, expensive perfume, jewels, a house or car, valuable but old-looking antiques, snacks.
Bible Passage: Matthew 13:44-45
More Ideas for Teaching on the Parable of the Treasure
- See all our teaching resources related to Matthew 13:44-45
- See this craft video demonstration on our YouTube playlist
- Compare our Sunday School lesson on this parable
- See our Pearl of Great Price children’s sermon
Message Note: As with most Bible lessons, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs. Use your judgment and ideas to best serve students.
Children’s Sermon: What is your treasure? (Matthew 13:44-45)
Greet children, carrying items or pictures of items:
Hello, children of God! Today we are going on a bit of a treasure hunt…now, what do you think that “treasure” means? What sort of things might you treasure? (Allow for some responses) What kinds of things do you value? What objects or items might you consider valuable? Now, I have a few things here, and I’d like to ask you which you might rather have… For example (use what you have available to you):
Would you rather have this bottle of stinky perfume, or this awesome action figure? The toy seems a lot more fun, but actually this perfume is worth hundreds of dollars!
Okay, how about this delicious bag of candy, or this boring bookshelf? The bookshelf might seem old and worn out, but it’s what we call “antique,” and people pay thousands of dollars for these things?
Now, how about this: a new video game, or this tiny little ring? Which seems more important? The game sounds fun, but that little jewel all by itself costs a lot of money.
The point is that the way we perceive value can differ from what culture or the society of “the world” sometimes seems to say. The world puts a dollar sign on what everything is “worth.” Items are more or less expensive depending on what people are willing to pay to get them. Sometimes earthly treasures seem valuable, or seem like things that we should pursue.
What about Heavenly treasure? What do you think it might mean to seek God’s kingdom over other kinds of treasure? In the parable Jesus told today, He talked about how Heaven is a treasure that we should value. Jesus said the kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure or a beautiful pearl that someone would give up everything else to get. When something is extra special, we are often willing to sacrifice something else to obtain it. You might give up playing with toys in order to go to soccer practice. You might have to skip a TV show or movie so that you can study for a test. In the end, it’s worth it, because you get something of greater value.
Well, life with Jesus is the same way. In the parable, people were willing to give up their own treasures to obtain a much more significant treasure. We can recognize that there is no earthly dollar amount or object value that even begins to match what the blood of Jesus does for us. He payed the ultimate price for us, to free us and forgive us. Because of that, we know that we can go to Heaven one day. We don’t have to do anything at all but accept and receive Jesus in our hearts. Following God might sometimes mean that we don’t do everything our friends do, and we might need to act or say things differently as Christ’s disciples. But we know that it is worth it.
We know that our Heavenly home awaits us, and that it is more precious and valuable than anything we could hope for on Earth. When we seek God’s kingdom, we recognize that we have hope in His promises. He will give us a wonderful new life someday. So no matter what kinds of “treasures” we find on earth, our current lives are just the start of an amazing life with God. That is something to truly treasure, now and always!
Children’s Prayer Moment
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
You are treasure of greatest value
Help us to seek you first and foremost
Remind us of the most important things in our lives
And keep us focused on what matters.
Thank you for the hope of Heaven
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Matthew 13:44-45 – The Parables of the Great Treasure
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” -Matthew 13:44-52