"We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle." Hebrews 13:10
Moses describes the altar of sacrifice for us in Exodus 27:1-8. All that the altar of the tabernacle and the temple signified typically is fulfilled for us really and truly in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is our Altar.
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The altar of sacrifice typified Christ in the use for which it was made. The altar sanctified the gift, the sacrifice, which was placed upon it, and made it acceptable to God (Matt. 23:19). — Christ sanctifies us. He makes the believing soul and our sacrifices acceptable to God (1 Peter 2:5).
There was one altar for all the people, one altar for all their sins, one altar for all their sacrifices. — There is one Altar for sinners; and that Altar is Christ.
The altar bore the violent heat of divine wrath, so that the sinner might go free. While the fire consumed the sacrifice on the altar, the altar itself was not destroyed. — Even so, Christ our Altar bore the violent heat of God’s wrath. He poured out his soul unto death for our sins as a sacrifice to God of a sweet-smelling savor. Yet, he is not destroyed. This sacrifice, rather than being consumed by the wrath of God, has consumed the wrath of God (Rom. 8:1).
The altar was a place of refuge for guilty men (1 Kings 1:50; 2:28-30). What else can a guilty man do but take hold of the horns of the altar? — Christ alone is the Refuge for guilty sinners.
There were four horns on the altar. These four horns represented the universality of Christ’s redemption, reaching to the four corners of the earth. It is written, — “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” You will be wise to lay hold of the horns of the Altar, and plea for God’s mercy. What encouragement the Holy Lord God gives to sinners to do just that in the invitations and commands of the gospel (Isa. 43:25-26).
The altar of Sacrifice was typical of Christ in its position. The moment the sinner entered the door of the tabernacle, the first, the most important, most prominent thing he saw was that huge brazen altar. As he went into approach God, the first thing he saw was the altar. As he left the tabernacle and went out to live in the world, the last thing he saw was the altar.
In all things spiritual Christ is pre-eminent (Col. 1:18). All the fullness of grace dwells in him (Col. 1:19). Indeed, all the fulness of the eternal Godhead dwells in him (Col. 2:9). In order to approach God, we must come by the Altar, Christ Jesus (Heb. 7:25). As we attempt to live in the world, we must live with the Altar of Sacrifice, the Lord Jesus Christ, ever before our heart’s eyes. Every relationship in life is affected by this Altar.
The Altar’s Form
The altar of sacrifice was typical of Christ in its form. It was four square, like Christ our Altar: full, complete, perfect. All the fulness of God’s love is revealed in him and resides in him (Eph. 3:19). All the fulness of God’s covenant grace and promises is in Christ (Isa. 49:8; 2 Sam. 23:5). All the fulness of God’s salvation and grace is in Christ (1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 3:8). He is the Creator of all things, the Upholder of all things, the Ruler of all things, and the Heir of all things.
There were no steps going up to the altar, because there is no possibility of sinners approaching God by the steps of their own works. There are no steps of preparation before we come to the Altar. When the priest approached the altar, no nakedness could be seen, because there were no steps to the altar.
So it is with sinners coming to God by faith in Christ. Because we come to him by faith alone, the shameful nakedness of our souls is altogether unseen. We are washed in his blood and robed in his righteousness.
The altar was completely covered with blood, because sin can only be put away by blood (Heb. 9:22). Justice must be satisfied; and nothing but the blood of Christ could ever satisfy God’s holy, inflexible, infinite justice.
The altar of sacrifice was typical of Christ in its materials. The shittim wood represented the incorruptible humanity of Christ. The brass represented the eternal Godhead of Christ. The shittim wood overlaid with brass represents the eternal duration of the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice.
The Altar’s Fire
And the fire, which continually burned upon the altar of sacrifice, was also typical of Christ. — That perpetual flame represented the eternal love of Christ for his people, the zeal of Christ for the glory of God, the purifying of God’s elect by the blood of Christ, and the unfailing intercession of Christ for us.
Come to Christ our Altar. He is the only Altar, the appointed Altar, a living Altar, a lasting Altar, an accessible Altar, and a saving, sin-atoning Altar. Sinners have no hope but to lay hold of the horns of this Altar. Horns suggests strength. — Christ is able to save. Horns imply sufficiency. — Christ is the Horn of salvation. He is a Horn of plenty. Child of God, come to Christ your Altar. Come continually (1 John 2:1-2). Eat of the Altar. Come and offer yourself to God upon this Altar (Rom. 12:1-2). We cannot come to God any other way (John 14:6). And we cannot be rejected if we come to God by means of the Altar he has established (Heb. 10:19-22).
Don Fortner