Jesus Calls Matthew Printable Coloring Page

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📖 From Tax Booth to Kingdom Fisher: Jesus Calls Matthew (Matthew 9)

In the bustling seaside town of Capernaum, a man named Matthew sat inside a wooden tax collection booth along the busy trade highway. In biblical times, tax collectors were some of the most disliked people in the entire nation. They worked for the Roman Empire, charged their neighbors extra money, and lined their own pockets with the profits. People whispered behind Matthew’s back, crossed to the other side of the street to avoid him, and excluded him from social gatherings. Matthew had lots of shiny silver coins, but he had no true friends.

One sunny afternoon, a huge crowd came walking down the road surrounding a young teacher named Jesus of Nazareth. As Jesus passed the busy customs office, He didn’t avoid Matthew or look at him with disgust like everyone else did. Jesus stopped right in front of the tax booth, looked straight into Matthew’s eyes with warm compassion, and said two words that shattered Matthew’s world: “Follow me.”

Matthew didn’t hesitate for a single second! He didn’t ask how much it would cost or try to count his remaining coins. The Bible says that Matthew got up from his desk, left his old life behind, and followed Jesus! Overjoyed by this second chance, Matthew hosted a huge dinner party at his home so all his fellow tax collectors and outcast friends could meet the Teacher who had accepted him with unconditional love.

When the religious Pharisees saw this, they sneered at Jesus’ disciples: “Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But Jesus heard them and replied with timeless grace: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12–13). Matthew went on to write the first Gospel in the New Testament! Jesus doesn’t call people who have it all figured out; He calls everyday people and transforms their lives with grace.

💡 5 Sunday School Discussion Questions

• 1. Question for Recall: What was Matthew doing when Jesus first walked up to him, and what did Matthew do when Jesus called him? (He was sitting in his tax collector booth counting coins. He got up immediately and followed Jesus!)
• 2. Question for Heart Empathy: Why didn’t people like tax collectors back then? How do you think Matthew felt sitting alone in his booth before Jesus smiled at him?
• 3. Question for Christ-Connection: Why did Jesus call Himself a “Doctor” for our hearts? (Just like a sick person needs medicine from a doctor, everyone needs Jesus to heal their hearts from sin and loneliness!)
• 4. Question for Real-Life Application: Is there a kid at your school, on your sports team, or in your neighborhood who sits alone or gets picked on? How can you show them Jesus’ love this week?
• 5. Memory Verse Challenge: Recite Matthew 9:9: “Follow me, Jesus said, and Matthew got up and followed him!”

🏃 5-Minute Active Classroom Game: “The Great Matthew Coin Relay”

Supplies: Plastic play coins and two small collection buckets.
How to Play: Divide children into two teams. Kids race to pick up a coin from a “Tax Booth” table, drop it into the team bucket, and tag the next runner while shouting: “Follow Me!” Once all coins are gathered, reveal the lesson twist: “Coins can’t buy friendship or eternal life, but following Jesus gives us treasure in heaven that lasts forever!”

✂️ Hands-On Activity & “Clean Slate” Tax Ledger Art

• The “Clean Slate” Ledger Craft: Inside Matthew’s tax ledger book on the coloring page, have children use white chalk, a white crayon, or glue a white sticker that says: “PAID IN FULL BY GRACE”, symbolizing 2 Corinthians 5:17.
• Metallic Coin Foil Rubbing: Place a real coin underneath the paper beneath Matthew’s table and use a bronze or copper crayon to rub over it, creating an authentic raised coin impression on the drawing.
• The Capernaum Coastline Palette: Color the sparkling Sea of Galilee in deep cerulean blue with sandy shores and Mediterranean green olive trees in the background.

🗣️ Teacher Quick-Script: Transition to Prayer

“Boys and girls, Jesus didn’t look for the most popular or perfect person in town when He called Matthew; He looked for someone willing to follow Him with an open heart. Jesus loves you just as you are, and He calls you to follow Him today. Let’s bow our heads and thank Him.”

✝️ Closing Teacher Prayer

“Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Great Physician who loves us, forgives our sins, and invites us to follow You. Thank You for Matthew’s inspiring example of quick, joyful obedience. Give our boys and girls loving eyes to see those who feel lonely or left out, and courageous hearts to invite them into Your loving family. In Your precious and holy name, Amen.”