Ransom money in the Old Testament was collected when a census was taken. It was for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. The deeper meaning is that it cost something for our salvation. God paid a price to ransom us from our sins. He gave His very own Son!
Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
The debt has been paid. The Creator has paid the price to bring us back to Himself!
This altar was positioned just before the Holy of Holies. It was the way to this most blessed place. It was built with acacia wood which represents the humanity of Christ. It was overlaid with pure gold which pictures His deity. Horns on the altar represent God's power and ability to save us from our sins.
Luke Chapter 1:67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 1:68 Blessed [be] the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 1:69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
Incense was continually burnt on the altar. Again, the altar represents Christ through whom our prayers and praise are continually being offered up to the Father.
No strange incense was to be offered. Only God prescribed incense. No one was to cook up their own formula for worship. It was to be God's way only. God inspired. See Leviticus 10:1-3.
In the Old Testament, the sin offering dealt with the forgiveness of sins and restoration of relationship with God. The priest would lay hands on the head of the animal. This would in effect transfer his sins to the beast. As the throat was slit and the life blood ran out, guilt was transferred. The act depicts the awful procedure required to free one from the guilt of their sins.
This was a picture of things to come when Jesus would give His life for the forgiveness of sins of the whole world. His sacrifice, however, is perfect. It only happened once and is eternal. The sacrifice of animals had to happen over and over again. These sacrifices merely foreshadowed what was to come.
Hebrews chapter 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 7:26 For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 7:28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
.
