"Deuteronomy 12:30-31 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shall not do so for the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hates, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods" (DLT: torahtimes.org).

Thou shall not do so ...:  This biblical commandment is an eternal principle against adopting pagan customs for the worship of the LORD.   The test is simple: if the custom was instituted for pagan worship, and it is not commanded in Scripture, then it is forbidden to promote that custom for the worship of the LORD.  This point is emphasized in Deut. 12:32 [13:1].

 

snared: the text implies the subtleness of the snare, a creeping apostasy, a gradual slipping away into paganism by first adopting pagan practices and trying to sanctify them for the worship of the LORD.   The process begins with being introduced to a pagan custom by a pagan neighbor whom the believer knows personally.  The believer is convinced that just a little bit of use of the pagan custom is o.k. as long as it is used in the worship of the LORD and without the extreme's of the pagans.   By this process Jeroboam introduced idolatry to Israel.  He first changed the day of worship at the feast of tabernacles to a feast of his own making in the eighth month.  Jeroboam's compromise was like the compromise of Protestants.   Then came Jezebel who promoted baal (a title meaning lord) in Israel.  So Israel slipped into the pagan version of Catholicism.

 

abomination: the criteria for discernment is not what offends the worshipper.  It is what offends God.   It is God memory of the pagan practice, and its former use, and his knowledge of its contribution to past apostasy that offends him.   The human heart is utterly wicked and deceitful.   One who goes down the path of just a little bit is all right will have their spiritual walk dulled and their discernment clouded.  It's like marrying an unbeliever for a wife.

 

fire:  This is the extreme example of pagan worship, but long before pagan worship reaches the high handed rebellion of the Canaanites, the practices are destructive of the true faith.  Compromising Christians cite this clause as an excuse to say -- see we aren't doing that.   This is merely legalistic code pleading on their part so that they can follow the lusts of their heart and worship God and they please, and not as God pleases.

 

comment1: countless numbers of Christians have been swept away into apostasy that mixed a little pagan practice, thinking it was all right.  This attitude engenders a type of thinking that does not seek the truth or pure worship.  It is the same type of thinking that brings so many false doctrines and vain philosophies into the Church.  It also encourages them to learn to twist and misinterpret the word of God in order to justify their compromises.

 

comment:2: Christians have long forgotten that early Protestants opposed the observance of Christmas and Easter for the very reason that it was mixed up with the idolatrous worship of the Catholics.  Both of these days can be traced back to ancient baalism.   And they cannot justify it from Scripture.  Messiah Yeshua was born on Tishri 1, Yom Teruah (cf. Rev. 12:1-3), and he died on the eve of Passover, and rose on the first Sabbath thereafter.  The biblical truth is thus totally dis-connected from the times and seasons now used by the Church.

 

comment3:  Messiah has sanctified the nations so that the nations no longer practice the overt pagan idolatry they used to.  However, the human heart is just as wicked as before.  In God's eyes a littler compromise in the midst of such great knowledge and sanctification is equivalent to the more serious compromise in ancient times.   Very soon now, and it is right at the door, God will turn his eyes back to Israel to restore the kingdom, and at that time the world of nominal Christians will revert to the old idolatry and paganism stunningly fast, as it becomes revealed where their hearts really are.  The love of most will grow cold except for the remnant of Israel and those wanting to join with the God of Israel.  Indeed, the process has already begun. (DLC: torahtimes.org)

Daniel's Literal Translation and Commentary: (http://www.torahtimes.org/translation/deu1230.html)