John Calvin Commentary Deuteronomy 12:8

"Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes;" — Deuteronomy 12:8 (ASV)

You shall not do after all. Even then they observed the rite of sacrifice handed down to them from the fathers; but since they were still wandering in the desert, it was lawful for them to build altars anywhere, until an end should be put to their journeys. And this Moses expressly declares, adding the reason, namely, that they had not yet entered into the rest which the Lord had promised them.

He shows them, then, that when they attain the tranquil possession of the land, there would be no further room for excuse if they should sacrifice wherever it pleased them. When, therefore, it is said that they then did every man whatsoever was right in his own eyes, it does not extend to any of the inventions which men devise for themselves in the worship of God, but only points out a freer system and form in the exercise of devotion, before the place was shown to them in which they must settle.¹⁰⁸

¹⁰⁸ “Ou seroit le sanctuaire;” where the sanctuary should be. — ;” where the sanctuary should be. — Fr.