AC 8906 - Spiritual Theft

AC 8906

Thou shalt not steal.
(Exodus 20:13)

That this means that no one's spiritual goods
must be taken away from him,
and that those things which belong to the Lord
are not to be attributed to self,
is evident from the meaning of "stealing,"
as being to take away spiritual goods from anyone.
That this is meant by "stealing,"
is because riches and wealth in the spiritual sense
are the knowledges of good and truth,
in general all those things which are of faith and charity,
that is, which are of spiritual life in a person.
Wherefore to take these things away from anyone
is "to steal" in the spiritual sense.
And because all spiritual goods,
that is, all things of faith and charity,
are from the Lord alone,
and absolutely nothing from man,
therefore by "stealing" is also meant
to attribute to oneself what belongs to the Lord.