Window 14

Counting from the front on the north side, the window at the right in the second triad illustrates the Gospel from Matthew 7:15-23. The scene is dominated by a fruit-bearing tree whose roots are imbedded in a book.  At the base of the widow, an axe lies beside a thorn bush whose branches will be thrown into the flames at the left.  A dove hovers above the tree.

In this Gospel Jesus warns against teachers who mislead people with their sincerity but whose teaching perverts the Gospel of salvation by grace alone.  The lie in their teaching will be known to eyes which have been opened by the Holy Spirit (dove).  With God’s word for guidance, the disciples of Jesus will learn to distinguish falsehood from truth.  As Jesus taught, whatever dominates a person’s heart will come into the open either as a God-pleasing life (fruitful tree drawing its strength from God’s word) or as words and deeds for reasons  contrary to the Gospel (thorn bush) and therefore displeasing to God  They are fit only to be cut down and thrown into the fire (axe and flames).