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Temptation of Jesus Craft for Kids

An easy temptation of Jesus craft for kids in three levels, a wilderness card with three lift-up flaps that show Jesus' "It is written" answers. Free template.

Preschool–Grade 5

Temptation of Jesus Craft for Kids

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Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages
Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5)
Time
15 to 30 minutes
Scripture
Matthew 4:1–11
Bible story
Jesus Is Tempted

What you need

  • The printed template (page 2), one per child (cardstock is sturdiest)
  • Crayons or markers in light blue, brown, tan, gray and yellow (plus pink and red for the harder level)
  • Scissors and a glue stick
  • The printed heart pocket page (page 3), one per child (harder level)

Steps

  1. Color the card: the sky light blue, the hills brown, the ground tan and the little stones gray.
  2. Color the three flaps: on the stones flap, the stones gray, the ground tan and the sky light blue; on the temple flap, the temple yellow and the sky light blue; on the mountain flap, the mountain brown, the little houses gray and the sky light blue.
  3. Cut out the card, the three flaps and the verse strip on the dashed lines. Help younger children with the cutting.
  4. Turn a flap over and put glue only on its top band, above the dotted line. Press it on the matching dotted band on the card: the stones flap on the left, the temple flap in the middle and the mountain flap on the right. Each flap covers one of Jesus' answers.
  5. Glue the verse strip on the back of the card.
  6. Tell the story: Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). Lift the stones flap and read what Jesus answered (4:3–4). Lift the temple flap (4:5–7), then the mountain flap (4:8–10). Each time Jesus said, "It is written." Turn the card over and read the verse together.

This temptation of Jesus craft turns one printed page into the wilderness of Matthew 4. After Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights (Matthew 4:2), the devil tempted Him three times: with stones, on a pinnacle of the temple and from an exceeding high mountain (4:3–9). Kids lift a flap for each one and read what Jesus answered every time: "It is written" (4:4, 4:7, 4:10). The memory verse is on the back. It costs under 50 cents a child, takes about 20 minutes and comes in three levels, from preschool to 5th grade.

The finished craft, easy and medium level

The finished craft, harder level

What it looks like finished: easy and medium (first photo) and harder (second photo).

Why this craft works

  • Cheap and simple: one printed page, crayons, scissors and glue.
  • Kids find the answers: each flap shows a temptation, and under it is Jesus' answer straight from the KJV, so kids see that Jesus answered with God's Word every time.
  • It follows the Bible closely: the stones (Matthew 4:3), the pinnacle of the temple (4:5), the exceeding high mountain and the kingdoms of the world (4:8).
  • No one is drawn: the flaps show places and things only. Jesus, the devil and the angels are not pictured.
  • It carries the verse home: Psalm 119:11 (KJV), "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee," is glued on the back of the card.

Three ways to make it

  • Easy (preschool, ages 3–5): you cut out the pieces and glue on the flaps. Kids color and lift the flaps while you read Jesus' answers. No scissors.
  • Medium (grades K–2): the craft in the first photo. Kids color and cut out the pieces, glue on the three flaps and read what Jesus answered.
  • Harder (grades 3–5): the craft in the second photo. Kids also make a paper heart pocket from page 3, hang it below the card, look up where Jesus' answers are written in Deuteronomy and hide three little scrolls in the heart.

Questions to ask

While kids work, ask how long Jesus fasted (Matthew 4:2), what the tempter wanted done with the stones (4:3), where the devil set Jesus (4:5), what he showed Him from the mountain (4:8) and what Jesus said every time (4:4, 4:7, 4:10). Then read Psalm 119:11 together.

Tips for the classroom

For preschoolers, cut out the pieces and glue on the flaps ahead of time, so all they do is color and lift. Cardstock makes the flaps lift best.

Teaching the story first? Use the free temptation of Jesus Sunday school lesson and the Jesus is tempted word search.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a simple temptation of Jesus craft for preschoolers?

Cut out each child's pieces ahead of time and glue the three flaps on the card for them. Preschoolers color the card and the flaps, then lift each flap while you read what Jesus answered and the kids shout, "It is written!" It takes about 15 minutes with no cutting by the kids.

How much does this temptation of Jesus craft cost?

Under 50 cents a child: one printed page, a little glue and crayons you already have. The template is free to print. The harder level adds a second page.

What Bible verse goes with this temptation of Jesus craft?

Psalm 119:11 (KJV), "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." It is printed on the verse strip glued on the back of the card. Under the flaps are Jesus' three answers from Matthew 4:4, 4:7 and 4:10. The harder level adds Hebrews 4:15.

How can older kids make this craft harder?

Use the harder level for grades 3–5. Kids also make a paper heart with a pocket from page 3 and hang it below the card. Three little scrolls go in the pocket, one for each of Jesus' answers, and on each one kids find where it is written in Deuteronomy and look it up in their Bibles. It shows Psalm 119:11: God's Word hidden in the heart.

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