Exo 30:10 | MHM | STEP | v. 10 : Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the altar had to be purified with the blood of the sin offering, put on its horns ( v. 10; Lev. xvi. 18, 19 ). This showed that even the altar, and the priests who served there, needed cleansing from sin. The high priest would do this as he came out from the Most Holy Place. (Spiritual Meaning) : The altar of incense is a symbol of Jesus Christ’s work as our mediator. The brazen altar in the courtyard pointed to Jesus’ sacrifice on earth, but the golden altar in the sanctuary pointed to Jesus praying for us in heaven (1 John ii. 1 ). The altar had a crown, because Jesus is our king as well as our intercessor (John xvii. 24 ). The incense also represents the prayers of believers, which go up to God like a sweet smell (Ps. cxli. 2 ). While the priest burned incense, the people prayed outside (Luke i. 10 ). We should have regular set times for prayer, every morning and evening ( v. 8; 1 Thess. 5:17 ). At the same time, the lamps were lit or trimmed, showing that reading God’s word should go along with our prayers. Our prayers are pleasing to God, but they are truly accepted because Jesus adds His perfect sacrifice to them (Rev. v. 8; Rev. viii. 3 ). However, if our hearts are not holy, even incense is offensive to God (Isa. i. 13; Isa. lxvi. 3 ).

‏ Exodus 30:10

v. 10: Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the altar had to be purified with the blood of the sin offering, put on its horns (v. 10; Lev. xvi. 18, 19 ^a). This showed that even the altar, and the priests who served there, needed cleansing from sin. The high priest would do this as he came out from the Most Holy Place.

(Spiritual Meaning): The altar of incense is a symbol of Jesus Christ’s work as our mediator. The brazen altar in the courtyard pointed to Jesus’ sacrifice on earth, but the golden altar in the sanctuary pointed to Jesus praying for us in heaven (1 John ii. 1 ^b). The altar had a crown, because Jesus is our king as well as our intercessor (John xvii. 24 ^c). The incense also represents the prayers of believers, which go up to God like a sweet smell (Ps. cxli. 2 ^d). While the priest burned incense, the people prayed outside (Luke i. 10 ^e). We should have regular set times for prayer, every morning and evening (v. 8; 1 Thess. 5:17 ^f). At the same time, the lamps were lit or trimmed, showing that reading God’s word should go along with our prayers. Our prayers are pleasing to God, but they are truly accepted because Jesus adds His perfect sacrifice to them (Rev. v. 8; Rev. viii. 3 ^g). However, if our hearts are not holy, even incense is offensive to God (Isa. i. 13; Isa. lxvi. 3 ^h).