¹³ He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover^(A) above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die.^(B)

²¹ Place the cover on top of the ark^(A) and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law^(B) that I will give you.

2 My dear children,^(A) I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate^(B) with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,^(C) and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.^(D)

⁷ “Aaron must burn fragrant incense^(A) on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. ⁸ He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come.^(B)

The Altar of Incense^(A)

30 “Make an altar^(B) of acacia wood for burning incense.^(C)

³ Another angel,^(A) who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people,^(B) on the golden altar^(C) in front of the throne. ⁴ The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God^(D) from the angel’s hand.

²⁴ For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;^(A) he entered heaven itself,^(B) now to appear for us in God’s presence.^(C)

²⁵ Therefore he is able to save^(A) completely^[a] those who come to God^(B) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.^(C)

Jesus the Great High Priest

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest^(A) who has ascended into heaven,^[a](B) Jesus the Son of God,^(C) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.^{(D) 15} For we do not have a high priest^(E) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are^(F)—yet he did not sin.^{(G) 16} Let us then approach^(H) God’s throne of grace with confidence,^(I) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.