"Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow." As he continues with his "new teaching," Jesus gives an instruction that seems not to be totally too novel. As a matter of fact, it is reminiscent of, and captures the spirit of a number of the six hundred plus laws that the Israelites were to observe. More importantly, it is a reflection of the covenant God made with Abraham, and indeed with all humanity. For God told Abraham that God was blessing him so that he in turn could become a blessing to others. This is something that God continues to remind God's people about over and over: they are to be good to the other because God has been good to them (Exodus 22:21; Deuteronomy 5:15; 15:15; 16:12). It is along this line of recreating God's blessing that I tend to understand this instruction by Jesus. Reaching out and helping someone in need is a show of selflessness and an invitation to the other to share in one's blessing. It is a recognition that everything I have is not mine, that all I have has been given to me by God. It is a recognition that God has blessed me so that I in turn can bless my brothers and sisters.