Deuteronomy 12:8

8 Do not worship the way we have been doing today, each person doing what he thinks is right.

Deuteronomy 12:8 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 12:8

Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here
In the wilderness, where they had no abiding, but were continually removing from place to place, and could not always observe punctually and precisely the exact order and time of their sacrifices and other things, nor offer them at any certain place, and many were doubtless neglected by them; see ( Amos 5:25 )

every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes;
that did he, brought the above things when and where he pleased; not that there was no regard had to the laws and rules given, as if there was no priest in Israel; but they were not so exactly in all circumstances conformed to as they would be obliged to when they came into the land of Canaan, and had a certain place to bring their offerings to; so some in Aben Ezra observe, that one would give the firstling, another not, because it depended on the land, or was what they were obliged to only when they came into the land of Canaan; see ( Exodus 13:11 ) but he thinks the sense is, that they did not all fear God, and so did not do their duty.

Deuteronomy 12:8 In-Context

6 and bring to that place your burnt offerings and sacrifices; bring a tenth of what you gain and your special gifts; bring what you have promised and the special gifts you want to give the Lord, and bring the first animals born to your herds and flocks.
7 There you will be together with the Lord your God. There you and your families will eat, and you will enjoy all the good things for which you have worked, because the Lord your God has blessed you.
8 Do not worship the way we have been doing today, each person doing what he thinks is right.
9 You have not yet come to a resting place, to the land the Lord your God will give you as your own.
10 But soon you will cross the Jordan River to live in the land the Lord your God is giving you as your own, where he will give you rest from all your enemies and you will live in safety.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.