What is the context of Matthew 19:26 for a kids lesson?

Jesus had just watched a rich young man walk away from following Him because the man was unwilling to give up his wealth. The disciples were rattled and asked who could possibly be saved if even a good, religious person struggled this much. Jesus used that moment of discouragement to point their eyes back to God's power rather than human effort or worthiness.

Is Matthew 19:26 a good memory verse for young children?

The second half of the verse, 'with God all things are possible,' is one of the most memorized phrases in children's ministry for good reason. It is short, concrete, and directly applicable to everyday fears and challenges kids face. Even preschoolers can repeat and begin to internalize that truth with consistent reinforcement.

How do I handle it if a child brings up a prayer that was not answered the way they hoped?

Acknowledge their experience honestly and do not rush past it. You might say something like, 'God had the power to answer that prayer differently, and we do not always understand why He works the way He does. But this verse tells us He was never unable to help, and He is still at work.' Staying close to what the verse actually says, without over-explaining, is usually the wisest approach with kids.

Matthew 19:26 Sunday School Lesson for Kids

“Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.””
— Matthew 19:26

Scripture: World English Bible (Public Domain).

Big Idea

When something seems too hard or impossible, God is never stuck.

Opening Hook

Ask the class to think of the hardest thing they have ever tried to do, something they thought they might never be able to finish. Let two or three kids share before telling them today's verse is about something even bigger than that.

Teaching Points

In Matthew 19:26, Jesus was talking to His disciples about something they thought sounded impossible, and He did not pretend the difficulty was not real. He agreed that some things are impossible for people.
Then Jesus made a clear distinction: what people cannot do, God can. The verse does not say God makes hard things a little easier. It says all things are possible with Him.
This truth is meant to grow our faith. When we face something we cannot fix or figure out, we can trust that God is not limited by the same walls we run into.

See also:Matthew 14:22-33 — another lesson about faith→

Discussion Questions

Why do you think the disciples were surprised when Jesus said what He said?
Can you think of a time when something seemed impossible but it worked out anyway?
What is one thing in your life right now that feels too hard, and how could you bring that to God this week?

Sample Slide Titles

What Did Jesus Say?The Disciples Were WorriedPeople Have Limits. God Does Not.With God, ALL Things Are PossibleWhat Does That Mean for You?

Sample Word Search Terms

JESUSGODFAITHPOSSIBLETHINGSHOPE

Application & Send-Off

Challenge students to write down or draw one thing this week that feels hard, and then pray and ask God about it, remembering that nothing is impossible for Him.

Bible Context

Matthew 19:26 comes from the Gospel of Matthew, written by the apostle Matthew to a largely Jewish audience to show that Jesus is the promised Messiah. This verse falls near the end of a conversation Jesus had with a wealthy young man who asked about eternal life but turned away when Jesus called him to give up his riches. After the man left, the disciples were deeply troubled and asked Jesus who could possibly be saved. Jesus looked at them directly before giving this answer, grounding an enormous theological truth in a very human moment of discouragement. The statement echoes Old Testament affirmations of God's unlimited ability, including Genesis 18:14 and Jeremiah 32:17, placing Jesus firmly in line with the whole biblical witness about who God is.

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Frequently Asked Questions

This is one of the most important pastoral questions when teaching this verse. It helps to stay close to the context: Jesus made this statement in response to a question about salvation, not as a promise that every prayer request gets a yes. You can honestly tell kids that God's power is unlimited, and His wisdom about how and when to use that power is also unlimited. We trust both.