Poitiers Cathedral Stained Glass - Bay 114b Key (The Parable of the Overseer)

In some ways this window is even more enigmatic than its neighbour. Two panels are lost and some of the surviving panels are clearly out of their original positions, which makes the difficult task of identifying this story even harder. I will however stick my neck out and suggest that at least some of this is an extended and slightly symbolic representation of the parable of the overseer (Matthew 20:1-16), with Christ as the steward, paying every labourer the same penny, regardless of how many hours in the day he had laboured. The parable is one of many that tries to explain God's favouring of the new faith over the old and is worth quoting in full;

(1) For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. (2) And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. (3) And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, (4) And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. (5) Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. (6) And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? (7) They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. (8) So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. (9) And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. (10) But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. (11) And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, (12) Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. (13) But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? (14) Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. (15) Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? (16) So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.


Bay 114b - The Parable of the Overseer (Mat 20:1-16)
(All images © Dr Stuart Whatling)
Index to the panels: 13-14 - Unidentified scene with an altar 11 - The Overseer (Christ) paying his labourers 12 - The vineyard owner tells his steward to pay the men 09 - Unidentified scene (Christ outside a man's house) 10 - Unidentified scene (Christ and another man) 07 - Unidentified scene (three apostles) 08 - The Overseer (Christ) paying his labourer 05 - Unidentified scene (badly eroded) 06 - Unidentified scene (two apostles) 03 - Unidentified scene (group of figures facing left) 04 - Unidentified scene (three figures facing right) 01-02 - Modern panels by F. Chigot (not photographed)
Overview:
In some ways this window is even more enigmatic than its neighbour. Two panels are lost and some of the surviving panels are clearly out of their original positions, which makes the difficult task of identifying this story even harder. I will however stick my neck out and suggest that at least some of this is an extended and slightly symbolic representation of the parable of the overseer (Matthew 20:1-16), with Christ as the steward, paying every labourer the same penny, regardless of how many hours in the day he had laboured. The parable is one of many that tries to explain God's favouring of the new faith over the old and is worth quoting in full; (1) For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. (2) And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. (3) And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, (4) And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. (5) Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. (6) And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? (7) They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. (8) So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. (9) And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. (10) But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. (11) And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, (12) Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. (13) But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? (14) Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. (15) Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? (16) So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.