“Unclean”

Lesson Plan for Teaching Mark 7:1–23 (4th–6th Grade)

1. Start With a Relatable HOOK (5 minutes)

Use something kids already understand: rules.

Activity: Ask:

“What are some rules at home or school that make sense?”

“Are there ever rules that feel like they don’t matter as much?”

Then give a funny example:

“What if your mom said you had to wash your hands before lunch, but you only dipped one fingertip in water and said, ‘I’m clean!’—would that be real cleanliness?”

Explain: In today’s story, Jesus talks to people who followed rules but missed the point.

2. Read or Summarize the Passage BOOK (10 minutes)

Depending on the group’s reading ability, you can:

Read it from a kid-friendly translation, OR

Tell it like a story.

Simple Summary:

Some religious leaders (Pharisees) get upset because Jesus’ disciples don’t wash their hands in a special ceremonial way.

The Pharisees think the disciples are breaking God’s rules.

Jesus tells them that they’re focusing on human traditions instead of what God truly cares about.

Jesus says the real problem isn’t dirty hands—it's the things that come from our hearts, like selfishness, lying, and hurting others.

What goes into your body doesn’t make you unclean. What comes out of your heart is what matters.

3. Key Themes to Teach LOOK

A. God Cares More About Your Heart Than Your Habits

Explain:

Washing hands is good for health, but it doesn’t make you spiritually good or bad.

What matters is how you treat people, speak to them, and think about them.

B. Traditions Are Fine—but Don’t Replace Loving God

Kids know traditions: Christmas routines, birthday customs, school habits. Explain that traditions can help—but they are not more important than obeying God.

C. The Heart Is the Source of Our Actions

Jesus teaches that bad choices start inside us—so we need God to clean our hearts.

4. Interactive Object Lesson (5–8 minutes)

Object Lesson: “The Dirty Cup”

Materials: a cup that looks clean outside but is dirty inside (use cocoa powder, etc.).

Activity:

Show the cup. Ask if students would drink from it.

Reveal the inside.

Point: The Pharisees cared about the outside (doing the right things publicly), but Jesus cared about what’s inside—our attitudes and motives.

5. Discussion Questions (5–10 minutes) TOOK

Keep questions open-ended and simple:

Why do you think the Pharisees cared so much about handwashing rules?

What does Jesus mean when He says the real problem is in our heart?

What are some “inside” things that Jesus wants to clean in us?

What’s more important to Jesus—looking good on the outside or having a good heart? Why?

Can you think of a time you did the right thing but for the wrong reason?

6. Application for Kids (4th–6th Grade)

A. Check Your Heart First

Encourage students to think about:

How they speak to siblings

How they treat classmates

Whether they tell the truth

Whether they’re kind

B. Ask God to Help You

Teach a simple prayer: “Jesus, help my heart to be clean and full of love.”

C. Don’t Judge by Outward Appearance

Challenge students not to assume someone is “good” or “bad” based on what they look like or how perfectly they follow rules.

7. Creative Response Options (optional activities)

A. Heart Inventory Sheet

Students fill in:

“Good things I want to grow in my heart”

“Bad habits I want Jesus to help clean”

B. Skit

Let kids act out a Pharisee complaining about dirty hands, then Jesus explaining the true meaning.

C. “Clean Inside” Craft

Draw a cup or heart; outside = things people see, inside = things Jesus cares about.

8. Wrap-Up (2 minutes)

Reinforce the core truth:

Jesus teaches that what comes from our heart matters more to God than following outward traditions. God wants to clean our hearts so we can love others well.