Scripture & the Rosary:
New Testament Mysteries,
Old Testament Parallels

The First Sorrowful Mystery

Lesson 12 He Began to Be Sorrowful
the Gospel According to Matthew 26:36–46
the Second Book of Samuel 15:13–16
the Second Book of Samuel 15:19–23

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)*
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)*
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Rosarium Virginis Mariae (Rosary of the Virgin Mary)
ex libris (in our library)
cross references for Scripture & the Rosary
Tami Palladino’s visual-meditation journal
next lesson: Pilate Took Jesus & Scourged Him

This material coordinates with Lesson 12 on pages 44–47 in Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels. 


And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”
—the Gospel According to Luke 1:46–49


welcome to our in-depth study of Scripture & the Rosary
We invite groups and individuals to become acquainted with Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible studies through Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels, which has been granted an imprimatur. Although no longer available in print, the first six lessons can be downloaded from our website. The remaining 20 lessons are posted throughout the liturgical year along with their related online study pages. Click here to access Lesson 12 through Lesson 16. If you have a Bible-study question or comment, you can contact our authors any time by using one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons on any online study page.


open with prayer
It’s always wise to begin any Bible study with prayer, whether reading the Scriptures alone or meeting with others in a discussion group. You can pray using your own words or use one of the opening prayers on our website. We especially like the following:

Lord Jesus, you promised to send your Holy Spirit to teach us all things.
As we read and study your word today,
allow it to touch our hearts and change our lives. Amen.

making connections—two sorrowful kings
Lesson 12 introduces the First Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary, Jesus’ Agony in the Garden. The Old Testament parallel is King David being forced to leave Jerusalem. The five lessons in Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels that examine the Sorrowful Mysteries focus on New Testament events associated with Jesus’ Passion and death. These events are familiar to most Catholics, who encounter them every year in the liturgical readings of Holy Week. What distinguishes Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels from other Catholic Bible studies based on the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ Passion are the Old Testament parallels, which look at how tragedies in the life of David are similar to the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. Much of the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King is devoted to exploring the tragedies of David’s life.

let’s look at the new in light of the old
As you read through this lesson’s selected passages from the New and Old Testaments, ask yourself what these two biblical accounts have in common. Additional in-depth questions can be found on pages 44–47 in
Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels. Clicking on the New and Old Testament stained glass windows will enlarge the art. The same art also illustrates Lesson 12 in Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels.

?  What’s similar about Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and David being forced to leave Jerusalem?
?  How do these two biblical accounts differ?
?  What makes each one of them sorrowful?
?  In what way does King David’s behavior demonstrate that he’s a man after God’s own heart?
?  In what way does Jesus’ behavior demonstrate that he’s the Son of God?
?  Refer to “David on the Run” on page 46 in Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels to learn what’s similar about the locations where these events occurred.
?  Look at the pictures of the stained glass window panels on pages 44 and 46 in Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels. What similarities do you see between these depictions of the New and Old Testament scenes?

supplemental Scripture
The account of Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane is taken from the Gospel According to Matthew 26:36–46, but there are slightly different versions of the story in the Gospels According to Mark, Luke, and John. Readers unfamiliar with details of the life of David will benefit from reading the Second Book of Samuel in conjunction with this section of Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels. Because there’s overlap from one Old Testament parallel to the next, it’s helpful to keep the entire account of David’s life in mind as we look at Lesson 12 through Lesson 16 in Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels. A large portion of our study The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King is devoted to exploring the tragedies of David’s life.

read the Catechism—there are two testaments for a reason
These Old Testament events are well suited as parallels to the Sorrowful Mysteries because David is understood to be an Old Testament type of Jesus. That means that there are things about David and his life that point ahead to the coming of Jesus. Paragraph 128 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that typology is a valid way of studying the Scriptures.

The Church, as early as apostolic times, and then constantly in her Tradition, has illuminated the unity of the divine plan in the two Testaments through typology, which discerns in God’s works of the Old Covenant prefigurations of what he accomplished in the fullness of time in the person of his incarnate Son.

ex libris—learn more about Jesus’ Passion, death & Resurrection
Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week is one of three books in a series about Jesus in the Gospels. Written by Pope Benedict XVI, it looks at the decisive events that are the focus of Jesus’ last week on earth. The Scripture covered begins with Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem and continues through the time of his Resurrection. Read excerpts and learn more about the Jesus of Nazareth trilogy and other works related to Bible study at ex libris—main bookshelf.

agony—you could look it up in our archives
This lesson looks at Jesus’ experiences of loneliness and agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. To learn more about the etymology of the word agony and how it might apply to your life, read Lost in Translation, an online column in which Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps helps readers connect with ideas expressed in the original languages of the Scriptures. New Lost in Translation entries are posted on Mondays, and past entries are archived on our website. Contact us if you’d like to receive Lost in Translation by email every week. During Lent, you can download Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering, which isn’t available at other times of the year.

HOW CAN AGONY be understood to be a contest?
All of us face an agonizing situation at some time. At its root, the word agony is related to a physical contest, but it’s come to refer to mental and emotional suffering as well.

?  What kind of contest is Jesus engaged in, and with whom?
?  What reward will go to the victor?
?  What kind of contest is King David engaged in, and with whom?
?  What reward will go to the victor of that competition?
?  Who’s fighting with Jesus?
?  In what ways are Jesus and David shown being disappointed by those closest to them?
?  When have you been disappointed by someone for whom you cared deeply?
?  How did you react?
?  How does your reaction compare to the ways that Jesus and David react to their disappointments?
?  How does struggle enter into your life in the present day?
?  What do the biblical texts that accompany this lesson suggest are effective ways to approach an agonizing situation?
?  What are some of your past experiences of struggle?
?  How did things turn out?
?  Consider whether you believe that you can count upon God to be on your side even when things don’t appear to be going your way.

ex libris—find out what’s behind all those Marian feasts
Mysteries of the Virgin Mary approaches the task of increasing understanding of the theology behind Marian doctrine by looking at reasons behind Marian feasts throughout the liturgical year. Chapters cover the Birth of Mary, her Presentation, her Immaculate Heart, her Holy Name, and her role as Queen of Heaven, as well as her titles as Our Lady of Sorrows, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and, of course, Our Lady of the Rosary. Read excerpts and learn more about Mysteries of the Virgin Mary and other works related to Bible study at ex libris—main bookshelf.

do you know the spiritual fruit associated with the First Sorrowful Mystery?
Hint: It’s related to the attitude Christians have toward sin. You can find out what it is in the “Fruits of Prayer” box on page 45 in Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels. In what ways might this fruit benefit you in your everyday life?

visual meditation is a form of prayer
If you like to draw, consider illustrating your prayers for Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels. Check out the visual-meditation journal that Turning to God’s Word co-founder Tami Palladino created for The Letter to the Hebrews: An Explanation of the Mechanism of Our Salvation. Tami also illustrated Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers and The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Faithful Witness, and some lessons in You Shall Have No Other Gods: The Book of Exodus and In the Beginning: The Book of Genesis.

the best Catholic commentary about Scripture
To find out more about how Church teaching is supported by passages in Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels, check out the Index of Citations in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Links (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition [RSVCE*]) to the primary Scripture passages in the lesson and relevant paragraphs in the Catechism are provided here. Not every passage in the biblical text for this study is referenced in a Catechism paragraph, however, including the passages in this lesson from the Second Book of Samuel 15:13–16 and the Second Book of Samuel 15:19–23.

the Gospel According to Matthew 26:36–44paragraph 2849
the Gospel According to Matthew 26:38paragraph 363
the Gospel According to Matthew 26:39paragraphs 536, 612
the Gospel According to Matthew 26:40paragraph 2719
the Gospel According to Matthew 26:41paragraphs 2733, 2846
the Gospel According to Matthew 26:42paragraph 612

to learn more, read more Scripture
When you’re having difficulty understanding a passage of Scripture, it can help to read the cross references—but looking these up takes time. We’ve compiled the cross references from the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE)—the same translation that we reprint in our study books. The list can be found at the top of every online study page, and it includes links to cross references in the primary biblical texts for all of the lessons in Scripture and the Rosary; New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels.

don’t forget about our indexes & extra online material
If you’re trying to locate information about a Scripture passage, you can look it up in the index at the back of the online version of this study. If you want to revisit a commentary, you can look it up by title in the topics index. If you want to learn more about another book of the Bible for which there’s a Turning to God’s Word study, you can read online commentaries and watch any accompanying videos by choosing a lesson from one of the study directories. (There are no lesson videos with Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels.) Finally, if you have a question or would like to make a comment about any of our studies, you can use the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” button to email our authors.

ex libris—Church documents & books about religious topics
You can find links to magisterial documents referred to in Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible studies at ex libris—magisterial documents. This page includes a listing of significant recent encyclicals as well as a number of historical Church documents. Excerpts from recommended books related to Catholic Scripture study can be found at ex libris—main bookshelf.

memorize a favorite Bible verse (4:48)
Turning to God’s Word co-founder Tami Palladino has created a short video about the benefits of memorizing Bible verses. Choosing a passage that you find particularly meaningful will make the task easier. There are inspiring verses in every book of the Bible, but some people in our Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible studies like to memorize a verse from their lesson every week. For more ideas and helpful tips, check out Tami’s video, Why Memorize Scripture? It’s less than five minutes long.


wondering how to pronounce some of these words?
The following links are to readings from the New International Version (NIV) Bible. To listen, click on the audio icon above the printed text. Although not taken from the translations used in our study materials, the NIV readings provide an audio guide to pronunciation of words in this lesson’s primary biblical texts. A close online version of the translation of the Bible used in Catholic liturgy in the United States as well as an audio guide for daily Mass readings for the current month can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

the Gospel According to Matthew 26:36–46 (NIV)
the Second Book of Samuel 15:13–16 (NIV)
the Second Book of Samuel 15:19–23 (NIV)

close by praying the First Sorrowful Mystery
Many of our study groups like to conclude discussions of Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels by praying a decade of the Rosary devoted to the Mystery that’s the focus of their lesson. A number of Catholics include a request for an increase in the spiritual fruit associated with the mystery. You can find out what’s associated with the First Sorrowful Mystery in the “Fruits of Prayer” box on page 45 in Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels.

We invite you to pray along with Turning to God’s Word co-founder Tami Palladino and her daughter Anne Marie on their prayer video featuring the First Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary. The prayers and videos for all 20 mysteries are accessible year-round at how to pray the Rosary, and you can access a link to Tami and Anne Marie’s how-to video to learn what’s important about praying the Rosary. Clicking on the diagram (above) will take you to the website page with the Rosary prayers.


Lesson 13 Pilate Took Jesus & Scourged Him (the Second Sorrowful Mystery, Jesus Is Scourged at the Pillar)—the Gospel According to John 18:33—19:1 and the Second Book of Samuel 16:5–12
Lesson 11 All Who Heard Him Were Amazed (the Fifth Joyful Mystery, Jesus Is Found in the Temple)—the Gospel According to Luke 2:41–52 and the First Book of Samuel 3:1–9

you also may like our free Lenten study of Jesus’ Passion
Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering is a five-lesson Catholic Bible study offering an in-depth look at the biblical foundations of the movie The Passion of the Christ. This revised study, which has been granted an imprimatur, contains all of the original material of the 2004 edition as well as many new features in an improved, reader-friendly format. Click on the book’s cover to view the introduction. Free digital lessons of Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering are available on the website during Lent.


start a Turning to God’s Word Bible study
Thank you for your interest in Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels. Information about beginning a Turning to God’s Word Bible study can be found at start a Bible study. Tami, Matthew, and I are available to answer your questions and to offer support. You may use this email to contact us directly if you’re interested in starting a Turning to God study or in having your study schedule listed with other TtGW study groups on our website. —Jennifer


*There are seven deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament—the Books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and First and Second Maccabees, as well as some passages in the Books of Esther and Daniel. Protestants usually refer to these works as “apocryphal,” a word that means “outside the (Protestant) canon” because they’re excluded from most Protestant Bibles. The word “deuterocanonical” means “second canon”; Catholics use that word to refer to any section of the Catholic Old Testament for which there are no extant, or existing, Hebrew manuscripts. All of the deuterocanonical books appear in the Septuagint, the earliest remaining versions of which date to the 1st century B.C. This Greek translation of the Old Testament was in common use by Jews at the time of Jesus—but the same books aren’t found in existing Hebrew manuscripts, which aren’t as old as the oldest version of the Septuagint. Learn more by reading How Do Catholic & Protestant Bibles Differ?

Turning to God’s Word printed Bible studies use the 2006 Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) translation for all Scripture references except those to the Psalms, which are taken from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, prepared by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey and published in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). All Scripture links for the digital version of Scripture & the Rosary: New Testament Mysteries, Old Testament Parallels are to the 1966 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) translation. The New International Version (NIV) audio recordings follow the same chapter and verse numbering as the RSV Catholic translations, but the NIV translation doesn’t include the deuterocanonical books and passages.

The 1966 RSVCE uses archaic pronouns and verb forms such as “thee,” “thou,” “didst” in the Psalms and in direct quotations attributed to God. The 2006 RSV2CE replaces those with more accessible English. The few significant translation changes in the RSV2CE include rendering almah as “virgin” in the Book of Isaiah 7:14 and restoring the term “begotten” in the Gospel According to John 3:16.

Numbering varies for some passages in this Bible study. Turning to God’s Word studies follow the numbering in the Revised Standard Version Catholic translations (RSV2CE and RSVCE). Discrepancies in the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) are noted in the Index of Scripture Citations.

You can learn more about the Psalms by viewing a sample lesson from the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers. The second part of that study, Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline, is scheduled for publication in 2025. Some verse numbers may vary in different translations of the Psalms.