Matthew 2 · Grade 4
Worship or Fear?
Read and Think
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem. They asked where the newborn King of the Jews was, because they had seen His star and had come to worship Him. King Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
The chief priests and scribes knew the Scriptures: the prophet Micah said a ruler would come from Bethlehem to shepherd God's people. Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem, pretending he wanted to worship too. The star went before them and stopped over the place where the child was. They rejoiced with great joy, worshiped Jesus, and opened their treasures of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Warned in a dream, the wise men went home by another way. An angel told Joseph to flee to Egypt, and he went that very night. Herod, angry that he had been tricked, did a terrible and cruel thing to the young boys of Bethlehem, but God protected Jesus. After Herod died, the family settled in Nazareth.
Show What You Know
Why did the wise men come to Jerusalem?
How did the chief priests know the King would be born in Bethlehem?
Describe the wise men's response when they found Jesus.
How did God protect Jesus?
Word Bank Fill-In
Use the word bank to fill in each blank.
- After Jesus was born in , wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem.
- They asked where the newborn King of the Jews was, because they had seen His and had come to worship Him.
- Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
- Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem, pretending he wanted to too.
- They rejoiced with great , worshiped Jesus, and opened their treasures of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Think About It
The wise men traveled a long way to worship Jesus. What does it look like for you to worship Him?
Herod saw Jesus as a threat, but the wise men saw Him as a treasure. How do you see Jesus?
Memory Verse
“They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:11 (WEB)
Copy It
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.
Take It Home
For families: talk about these together.
- What fills you with gladness about Jesus?
- Visitors from far away came looking for Jesus. How can you welcome people from other places?
Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.