121 "These are the statutes and the judgments which you shall carefully observe in the land which the Lord , the God of your fathers , has given you to possess as long e as you live on the earth . 2 "You shall utterly destroy all the places where e the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods , on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree . 3 " You shall tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and burn their Asherim with fire , and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods and obliterate their name from that place . 4 "You shall not act like this toward the Lord your God .
5 " But you shall seek the Lord at the place which the Lord your God will choose from all your tribes , to establish His name there for His dwelling , and there you shall come . 6 "There you shall bring your burnt offerings , your sacrifices , your tithes , the contribution of your hand , your votive offerings , your freewill offerings , and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock . 7 "There also you and your households shall eat before the Lord your God , and rejoice in all your undertakings in which the Lord your God has blessed you. 8 "You shall not do at all what we are doing here today , every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes ; 9 for you have not as yet come to the resting place and the inheritance which the Lord your God is giving you. 10 "When you cross the Jordan and live in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit , and He gives you rest from all your enemies around you so that you live in security , 11 then it shall come about that the place in which the Lord your God will choose for His name to dwell , there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices , your tithes and the contribution of your hand , and all your choice votive offerings which you will vow to the Lord . 12 "And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God , you and your sons and daughters , your male and female servants e , and the Levite who is within your gates , since he has no portion or inheritance with you. 13 " Be careful that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every cultic place you see , 14 but in the place which the Lord chooses in one of your tribes , there you shall offer your burnt offerings , and there you shall do all that I command you. 15 " However , you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your gates , whatever you desire , according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and the deer .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 12:1-15
Commentary on Deuteronomy 12:1-4
(Read Deuteronomy 12:1-4)
Moses comes to the statutes he had to give in charge to Israel; and begins with such as relate to the worship of God. The Israelites are charged not to bring the rites and usages of idolaters into the worship of God; not under colour of making it better. We cannot serve God and mammon; nor worship the true God and idols; nor depend upon Christ Jesus and upon superstitious or self-righteous confidences.
Commentary on Deuteronomy 12:5-32
(Read Deuteronomy 12:5-32)
The command to bring ALL the sacrifices to the door of the tabernacle, was now explained with reference to the promised land. As to moral service, then, as now, men might pray and worship every where, as they did in their synagogues. The place which God would choose, is said to be the place where he would put his name. It was to be his habitation, where, as King of Israel, he would be found by all who reverently sought him. Now, under the gospel, we have no temple or altar that sanctifies the gift but Christ only: and as to the places of worship, the prophets foretold that in every place the spiritual incense should be offered, John 4:21. And a devout Israelite might honour God, keep up communion with him, and obtain mercy from him, though he had no opportunity of bringing a sacrifice to his altar. Work for God should be done with holy joy and cheerfulness. Even children and servants must rejoice before God; the services of religion are to be a pleasure, and not a task or drudgery. It is the duty of people to be kind to their ministers, who teach them well, and set them good examples. As long as we live, we need their assistance, till we come to that world where ordinances will not be needed. Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we are commanded to do all to the glory of God. And we must do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to the Father through him. They must not even inquire into the modes and forms of idolatrous worship. What good would it do them to know those depths of Satan? And our inward satisfaction will be more and more, as we abound in love and good works, which spring from faith and the in-dwelling Spirit of Christ.