Leviticus 16:12-13
And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The high priest wasn't just bringing incense to burn; he was bringing the altar's fire with the incense into the holiest place. This signifies that the very means by which God's wrath is satisfied – Christ's sacrifice – is what allows us access to Him. The burning coals represent the fiery judgment Christ endured for us, making His offering of sweet incense (His intercession) acceptable.
This passage occurs on the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year for Israel, when the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place for a solemn ritual. This special entry, unlike any other, was prescribed after the tragic deaths of Aaron's sons for unauthorized service, emphasizing the gravity and danger of approaching God's presence. The High Priest, after making atonement for himself and his household with a bullock, prepares to enter the inner sanctuary with the blood of that sacrifice.
Why did the high priest need to fill the Most Holy Place with incense before entering?
The high priest's action of bringing incense into the innermost sanctuary wasn't just about creating a pleasant aroma. It was a critical act of reverence and self-preservation.
Veiling the Glory
God's presence, even in the Old Testament, was overwhelming. The 'cloud of incense' served as a symbolic veil, a way to temper the direct encounter with God's absolute holiness. This action recognized that no human, not even the high priest, could fully withstand the unmithed glory of God and live. It's a powerful reminder that our access to God is always mediated through His grace, not our own merit.
Repressing Audacity
This ritual also served to curb any hint of casualness or presumption. Approaching God requires solemnity and awe. The incense ensured the high priest remembered the gravity of his task and the immense privilege of entering God's presence, preventing any tendency towards complacency.
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What do the burning coals and sweet incense represent in this sacred ritual?
The elements the high priest carried into the Most Holy Place each held profound symbolic meaning, pointing towards the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The Fiery Coals
The coals of fire, taken from the altar of burnt offering, represent the divine judgment and the purification that comes through suffering. They speak of the wrath of God against sin, which Jesus willingly bore on the cross. These coals, while representing judgment, were also a source of heat to burn the incense, signifying that Christ's suffering was the means by which our worship and prayers become acceptable.
The Fragrant Incense
The 'sweet incense beaten small' symbolizes the prayers and intercessions of God's people, made fragrant and acceptable by Christ's mediation. Just as the fine powder of the incense released its aroma when heated, our prayers, when offered through Christ, ascend to God with acceptance. The 'handfuls' suggest abundance, indicating that Christ intercedes for all His people, for all their needs.
Understand the original words
machtah · Hebrew Noun
A vessel used for holding burning coals and incense, often used in priestly service to offer prayers or symbolic intercession before God.
mizbeach · Hebrew Noun
The place of burnt offering in the Tabernacle/Temple where sacrifices were made; it represents the holiness of God that consumes sin and the provision of a way to approach Him.
paroketh · Hebrew Noun
The heavy curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, symbolizing the barrier caused by sin between a holy God and sinful humanity.
kapporeth · Hebrew Noun
The lid of the Ark of the Covenant, where the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled. It is the place where God’s presence dwelt and where divine justice was satisfied by mercy.
eduth · Hebrew Noun
Often refers to the Ten Commandments or the Decalogue kept inside the Ark of the Covenant, representing God's holy standard and covenant requirements.
This passage directly links the golden censer and sweet incense of the Day of Atonement ritual to Christ's heavenly ministry, highlighting their symbolic importance.
Exodus 30:34-36This passage details the specific ingredients and purpose of the sweet incense, underscoring its role in representing prayer and acceptable worship before God.
Revelation 8:3-5This New Testament vision shows an angel with a golden censer offering incense with the prayers of the saints, directly paralleling the high priest's actions in Leviticus 16 and symbolizing Christ's intercession.
Hebrews 10:19-22This passage explains how Christ's sacrifice has opened a new and living way into the heavenly holy of holies, fulfilling the symbolic entry of the high priest described in Leviticus 16.
gillLeviticus 16:12: "And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:"
And he shall take a censer,.... A fire pan, a sort of chafing dish or perfuming pot; this was a golden one, as appears from Hebrews 9:4 ; hence Christ, the Angel of God's presence, our interceding High Priest, is said to have such an one, Revelation 8:3 ; and so Josephus says (g), it was a golden one the h…
calvinLeviticus 16:1-34: "And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;"
And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
Dixitque Jellova ad Mosen, Loquere ad Aharon fratrem tuum, ut ne ingrediatnr omni tempore sanctuarium intra velum…
The high priest wasn't just bringing incense to burn; he was bringing the altar's fire with the incense into the holiest place. This signifies that the very means by which God's wrath is satisfied – Christ's sacrifice – is what allows us access to Him. The burning coals represent the fiery judgment Christ endured for us, making His offering of sweet incense (His intercession) acceptable.
This passage occurs on the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year for Israel, when the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place for a solemn ritual. This special entry, unlike any other, was prescribed after the tragic deaths of Aaron's sons for unauthorized service, emphasizing the gravity and danger of approaching God's presence. The High Priest, after making atonement for himself and his household with a bullock, prepares to enter the inner sanctuary with the blood of that sacrifice.
This passage occurs on the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year for Israel, when the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place for a solemn ritual. This special entry, unlike any other, was prescribed after the tragic deaths of Aaron's sons for unauthorized service, emphasizing the gravity and danger of approaching God's presence. The High Priest, after making atonement for himself and his household with a bullock, prepares to enter the inner sanctuary with the blood of that sacrifice.
"And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the i…" — The high priest wasn't just bringing incense to burn; he was bringing the altar's fire with the incense into the holiest place. This signifies that the very means by which God's wrath is satisfied…
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