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Exodus 27:1-5

This would be the first thing you would see and come to as you entered through the gates. This was where the worshiper would come to be forgiven of sin.

The worshiper would bring an animal that took his place, which would be violently killed, spilling the blood into a basin. It seemed incredibly cruel, but the intense visual would remain with the worshiper as it painted a clear picture of the wages of sin. Blood had to be spilled for the forgiveness of sins.

Also, there would be a clear understanding of a substitute sacrifice, before the animal was killed the “sinner” would place his hands on the head of the animal and “transfer” his sins to the animal. Again, we don’t necessarily understand that in our day and time, but the symbolism is extremely straight forward. An innocent animal has the worshipers sins transferred to it, and then pays the ultimate price for those sins, death.

The blood of the animal (the sacrificial system) would suffice or cover sins until the Blood of God’s Son, Jesus, was spilled to, once and for all, cover the sins of mankind.

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:19)

The animal would then be burned upon the altar. Jesus, Himself, bore the fire of God’s wrath on the altar of sacrifice. He willingly gave His life as that substitute sacrifice for you and me (1 John 3:16).

The Altar has many facets and can be studied much more deeply than this, but I wanted to just provide a summary study. The bottom line is that the bronze altar points to our ultimate need for Jesus, and as we enter into relationship with God through His sacrifice, we learn to lay our lives down for Him and for others.