No Adding or Subtracting

The Alshich makes an interesting observation in connection with the wording of a specific Halacha in the Torah.

There is a commandment not to add or subtract from the laws of the Torah. For example, one may not place five sections in the Tefillin or add the number of Tzitzit.
Adjacent to this ruling, the terrible sin of Baal Peor is mentioned. Any man who followed the idol worship of Peor, was destroyed.

The Alshich sees this as an example of what happens when one believes he is able to add or subtract. This will open the person up for rationalizations and justifications for doing things that are clearly wrong. Certainly, this form of idol worship was rationalized as being so outrageous that there was no harm in practicing it.
There is a reason that the Rabbis were so careful to give clearly defined limits in the flexibility allowed in the observance of Torah laws.

When one bends too much, the system breaks to the point of no return. The Rabbis successfully saw it as their duty, to place safeguards around the Torah. This has been the secret to our survival of being without a Temple for 1,958 years. We must not add or subtract from the Torah. If we do, it could lead to dire consequences .