A "reward" in the Bible represents something that brings people together, or brings spiritual states together, and binds them. In the Bible, of course -- especially the New Testament -- we're told repeatedly to do what is good and right "without thought of reward." That's because removing the idea of a natural reward lets us be aware of spiritual rewards, which are actually intrinsic to the good that's being done. On a relatively low level, we feel delight in doing something nice and useful for someone else; that delight is a reward. The love that can exist between partners in a committed, loving marriage is a reward. The delight we feel when we truly want what is good and know how to create it is a reward. And ultimately, our conjunction with the Lord and the delight of His love and salvation is the deepest reward of all. These are the things meant when the Bible speaks of "rewards.

In a natural sense, the commandment 'Thou shalt not steal,' in Exodus 20:15, means, according to the letter, not stealing, robbing, or committing piracy in peace time, and in general, not secretly depriving anyone of his goods, or under any pretext. It also extends to all pretense, illegitimate gain, unreasonable loans, and extortion. It can also refer to tax, tariff or debt fraud. Workmen break this commandment in doing their work unfaithfully and dishonestly, as do merchants who deceive with their product, either in weight, measure, or accounting, officers depriving soldiers of wages, judges ruling for friends, bribes, relationship, affinity, and other ways of perverting the laws or legal cases, and so deprive others of their rightful possessions. In a spiritual sense, stealing means depriving others of the truths of their faith with falsity and heresy. Priests ministering only for the sake of gain, or worldly honor, and teach as they see fit or can see from the Word as untrue, are spiritual thieves, since they take the means of salvation, which are the truths of faith, away from people. In several passages of the Word, these priests are even called thieves. In a celestial sense, thieves mean people who take divine power away from the Lord, and claim His merit and righteousness themselves. These people may outwardly worship God, but still do not trust or even believe in Him, but only themselves.

(Odkazy: Exodus 15, 20; True Christian Religion 317)