Deuteronomy 12 opens with Moses ordering the people to destroy all vestiges of idol worship that they find in the lands they will occupy. He tells them that God will choose the place where He will dwell. Once that is found the people are to bring their offerings and worship.

Up until now the only meat the people are allowed to eat is from the burnt offerings made to God. Now they will be able to eat meat in their own towns. They are to keep the law against eating of the blood and they must not eat animals that are to become an offering. The offerings may not be burnt anywhere except at the place God chooses for His dwelling. All offerings must be brought to this place.

Moses warns the people not to embrace the religious practices of the peoples they conquer. They are not even to wonder about how they practiced their faith.

In Deuteronomy 13 Moses warns against following those who encourage the people to worship other gods. Those who do succumb to that temptation are to be killed along with those who led them astray. The people are told to show then no pity or compassion. If an entire town disobeys, it is to be completely destroyed and never rebuilt. God is testing their faithfulness.

In Deuteronomy 14 Moses reminds the people that they have been chosen to be God’s children and should conduct themselves in a holy manner. He reminds them of the way they should eat in order to remain holy. He reminds them that they are to bring a tithe of their livestock and crops to the Lord. If they live too far from the place that God has chosen for His dwelling they are to sell the tithe and bring the money to God’s place and purchase the offerings there. The people are also reminded to remember to support the Levites in their towns.

In Romans 2 Paul is dealing with those who believe in the law of God. In the last chapter he addressed those who do not know God or His law saying that God has been revealed to everyone and so there is no excuse for not recognizing Him. Now Paul is dealing with Jews who like to judge others and their inability to keep the law without considering that they themselves are just as guilty. He holds those who know God’s law even more accountable for their judgment. God’s law is written on the hearts of everyone, Jew or Gentile, and it is only in the practice of that law that we are judged, not simply by knowledge. If someone is outwardly pious but their heart is impure they may receive praise from others but will receive judgment from God.