Logion 25

25. Jesus said, “Love thy brother as thy soul (thyself), guard him as the apple of thine eye.”
Mk 12:30 (Cf. Lev 19:18) “…Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself…”
Ps 17:8: Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings.

The “apple of the eye” idiomatically refers to the pupil. One cannot help but think it could here refer to something treasured as would be a visually desireable apple. Yet, the pupil does indeed close over the lens to protect the retina from the shining of a light, just as do the wings of a mother hen close over her children (cf. Mt. 23:37, Lk. 13:34). Whereas in logion 24 light seemed to be a good influence, here to the eye it may be potentially harmful.

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