Jesus Gives Joy and Thanks: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 10:21-24

This Bible study series is for people who are learning English. It is designed for advanced beginner and intermediate learners, but children or adults who prefer simple English may also enjoy it. I also have a Sunday School lesson on Luke 10:21-24 that may work better for native English speakers.

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Luke 10:21-24 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 10:21-24 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Can you remember a time when you felt very happy and wanted to thank someone? What happened?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn how Jesus felt great joy and thanked God. We will hear what Jesus said about knowing God and how special it is to see and hear God’s good news.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

blessing: (noun) A good thing that God gives to his people.
earth: (noun) The world where we live.
hidden from: (phrase) To be kept as a secret so that someone cannot understand or know about it.
Holy Spirit: (noun) One of the three persons of God who comes to live inside his people.
praise: (verb) To say very good things about God or a person.
pray: (verb) To talk to God.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
shown to: (phrase) To have been made clear so that someone could see or understand something.
smart: (adjective) Intelligent or clever.
wise: (adjective) Having wisdom and making good choices.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

alone: (adjective) Being without any other people.
blessing: (noun) A good thing that God gives to his people.
choose: (verb) To pick someone or something from a group.
earth: (noun) The world where we live.
Father: (noun) A name for God.
feel: (verb) To have a sensation in your body or an emotion in your heart.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
heaven: (noun) The place where God lives.
hidden from: (phrase) To be kept as a secret so that someone cannot understand or know about it.
Holy Spirit: (noun) One of the three persons of God who comes to live inside his people.
king: (noun) A man who rules a country.
Lord: (noun) A name that shows someone has power or authority.
praise: (verb) To say very good things about God or a person.
pray: (verb) To talk to God.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
shown to: (phrase) To have been made clear so that someone could see or understand something.
smart: (adjective) Intelligent or clever.
Son: (noun) A name for Jesus who is the Son of God.
thankful: (adjective) Feeling glad for what you have been given.
wise: (adjective) Having wisdom and making good choices.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

alone: (adjective) Being without any other people.
blessing: (noun) A good thing that God gives to his people.
choose: (verb) To pick someone or something from a group.
could: (verb) To have been able to do something.
earth: (noun) The world where we live.
Father: (noun) A name for God.
feel: (verb) To have a sensation in your body or an emotion in your heart.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
given: (verb) To have handed something over to another person.
great: (adjective) Very large or very good.
happy: (adjective) Feeling joy or pleasure.
hear: (verb) To receive sound with your ears.
heaven: (noun) The place where God lives.
hidden from: (phrase) To be kept as a secret so that someone cannot understand or know about it.
Holy Spirit: (noun) One of the three persons of God who comes to live inside his people.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
king: (noun) A man who rules a country.
know: (verb) To have information about something in your mind.
like: (preposition) Similar to something else.
Lord: (noun) A name that shows someone has power or authority.
made: (verb) To have caused a feeling or a change.
praise: (verb) To say very good things about God or a person.
pray: (verb) To talk to God.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
really: (adverb) Truly or very much.
shown to: (phrase) To have been made clear so that someone could see or understand something.
smart: (adjective) Intelligent or clever.
Son: (noun) A name for Jesus who is the Son of God.
tell: (verb) To give information to someone by speaking.
thankful: (adjective) Feeling glad for what you have been given.
turn: (verb) To move in a circle or to change direction.
wise: (adjective) Having wisdom and making good choices.

Summary of the Passage

This passage happens after Jesus’ followers came back from a trip. They were happy because God worked through them. Then the Holy Spirit filled Jesus with great joy! He thanked God and called him Father.

Jesus was glad that simple people could understand God’s message. These were people who never went to school. Many wise and powerful people did not understand, but the simple people did. Jesus said this was what God wanted.

Jesus also explained that his Father had given him everything. He said that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together. No one truly knows the Father except the Son. And the only people who can truly know the Father are those the Son chooses to tell. This means we all need Jesus to help us know God!

Then, Jesus spoke quietly to his followers. He told them they were very blessed to see and hear the things God was doing. Long ago, prophets and kings wanted to see these things, but they could not. Now, the followers were seeing God’s promises coming true through Jesus.

This passage teaches us that God’s good news is for everyone, not just the rich or wise. It shows us that knowing God is a gift, and Jesus helps us see who God is. It reminds us to be thankful for the joy God gives through his Son.

Read The Passage

Most English learners should use the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), or the Good News Translation (GNT). If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions.

Jesus Prays to the Father
21 Then the Holy Spirit made Jesus feel very happy.
Jesus said,
“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.
I am thankful that you have hidden these things from those who are so wise and so smart.
But you have shown them to people who are like little children.
Yes, Father, you did this because it’s what you really wanted to do.
22 “My Father has given me all things.
No one knows who the Son is—only the Father knows.
And only the Son knows who the Father is.
The only people who will know about the Father are those the Son chooses to tell.”
23 Then Jesus turned to his followers.
They were there alone with him.
He said,
“It is a great blessing for you to see what you now see!
24 I tell you, many prophets and kings wanted to see what you now see, but they could not.
And they wanted to hear what you now hear, but they could not.”
Luke 10:21-24 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 10:21-24 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 10:21-24 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 10:21-24 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 10:21-24 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 10:21-24 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 10:21-24 (ESV)

Luke 10:21-24 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

How did Jesus feel at the beginning of this passage?
Who did Jesus thank?
Why was Jesus happy that simple people understood God’s message?
Who truly knows the Father?
Who helps people to know the Father?
What did Jesus say about the followers being blessed?
Who in the past wanted to see and hear what the followers saw and heard?

Application Questions

Why do you think God lets simple people understand his message?
How does it feel to know that Jesus helps people know God?
Why should we be thankful for the good things God shows us?
What is something about God you are thankful for today?

Theological Insights

God loves to show his truth to humble, simple people.
Jesus has the special job of showing people who God is.
It is a blessing to see and hear the good news about Jesus.
God gives joy to his people through the Holy Spirit.
Knowing God is a gift, not something we can earn by being smart or powerful.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, Thank you for letting us hear about you through Jesus. Help us feel joy in our hearts and be thankful for your love. Show us more about you each day. Amen.