Highlight: We are the apple of God's eye

The book of Zechariah says that we are the apple of God’s eye. We often think that this is referring to fruit. But what does it really mean?

Mike Shreve explains what this well-known expression actually means.

“It has nothing to do with the fruit the apple. It’s the pupil of the eye, it’s the center of the eye which is actually filled with a liquid solution called aqueous humor, it’s a hole in the eye through which the light passes to produce the image on the back of the eye.”

While studying this idea, Mike called an optometrist to get as much information about this part of the eye as possible.

“One thing he told me was that that particular area of the eye is subject to more acute pain than any other part of the eye. When I heard that I realized the thing that pains the heart of God the most is the pain of his people. In fact, when He rebuked Saul on the road to Damascus, Saul was going there to torture Christians to try and get them to deny the Lord. Jesus confronted him in a vision and said Saul, Saul why do you persecute me? He did not say, why are you persecuting the people that believed in me? He said, why do you persecute me?”

His followers pain is His pain as well.

“My assumption is because their pain was his pain. He didn’t differentiate. Their rejection was his rejection and that’s the way feels about all of us.”

God guards us as the apple of his eye.

“How do you guard your eyes. If someone were to try to hurt them, you would throw your arm up because you’re far more willing to take a temporary bruise on your arm than a permanent injury to your eyes. You’re willing to suffer that pain in your arm to protect something more valuable to you.  Well that’s exactly what Jesus did on the cross.”


Mike Shreve has been involved in evangelism and gifts of the Spirit ministry since 1971. His passion is to see New Testament Christianity revealed in the earth, the manifestation of God’s glory and the fulfillment of His promises.

Key Scripture: Proverbs 18:21

Who Am I?