Publican and Pharisee





Possible Lesson Plan:

  1. Open with prayer.


  1. Read the story in the Zondervan Bible Storybook, one available in each classroom. This story is in neither the Read with Me nor the Children’s Bible. What is a publican? Who else have we met who is a tax collector? (Zaccheus and Matthew) Review their stories briefly. What did the publican pray? What is a Pharisee? (a respected man of the temple) What did he pray? Which did God listen to? Why?


  1. True/False Questions:

True                                                     False






  1. Make “Bible Bookends”: Copy the icon and cut out 2 Pharisees and 2 publicans; you’ll have to draw in just the bottom of the Pharisee where the Publican overlays it. Have the students color the pieces. Take a brick. Spray paint it or glue felt on each side. Glue felt on the bottom. Glue the Pharisees on the wider side and the Publicans on the smaller sides. The bookends will remind the students each day of the parable and its moral.


  1. Close with prayer.