The Position of the Altar

And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee. (Ver. 6.) In Hebrews 9 the golden altar in the holy place is omitted in the enumeration of the sacred vessels, and the golden censer in the holiest of all is inserted in its stead.
The reason of this appears to be, that in Hebrews 9, as also in Hebrews 10, the High Priest is represented as on the day of atonement, entered into the most holy place within the vail, typical of Jesus entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
But in the type before us, the same precious and Divine Savior is represented as present in Spirit in the midst of his assembled and worshipping people on earth, by whom the sacrifice of praise is offered up to God continually, and their prayers go up with acceptance.
It is the vivid setting forth of those invaluable words in Matthew 18:19,20: “Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
The altar stands before, and not within, the vail in the holy place; for it tells of Jesus in the assembly, and yet it stands before the ark and mercy seat, from whence God holds fellowship with his servants; for by the faith of Jesus we have boldness to enter into the holiest. Yea, come boldly unto the throne of grace, and there may hold sweet intercourse with God from off the mercy seat.
And in Jesus, who is present in Spirit with us on earth, and present in person for us above, all the promises of God are yea and amen to the glory of God by us.
And all this is true to the believer individually, as well as to the saints collectively.