Heidi Norton
In Luke 1, the hour of incense refers to the time of the burning of incense, during which the people of Israel were praying outside the temple. Incense was offered twice daily, using a purpose-built altar inside the Holy Place of the temple. The honour associated with this ritual sacrifice led to a system of chance, where a priest would be chosen by lot to perform the offering. During the hour of incense described in Luke 1, the priest Zechariah was offering incense when he was visited by an angelic messenger.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time | Morning or evening |
| Location | Holy Place of the temple |
| Frequency | Twice a day |
| Participants | All the assembled worshippers |
| Activity | Praying |
| Leader | Zechariah |
| Angelic messenger | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Incense offerings were burnt twice a day
The rite was performed inside the Holy Place of the temple, between the curtains separating the courtyard from the Holy Place, and the inner curtain covering the Most Holy Place. While the incense was burnt, the people would be outside, in the courtyard, praying.
The altar of incense is seen as a symbol of the prayers of God's people. In Scripture, incense is often associated with prayer. In his vision of heaven, John saw that the elders around the throne "were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people" (Revelation 5:8; cf. 8:3).
The incense was always burning, symbolising that we should always pray (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). The altar of incense was holy to the Lord and was atoned for with the blood of the sacrifice. Our prayers are made holy by Jesus' sacrifice, and therefore they are pleasing to God.
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Incense is associated with prayer
Incense has been used in religious contexts for millennia, with the first recorded use being by the Indians of the Indus Valley Civilisation around 3600 BC. Since then, its use has spread to numerous cultures and religions, including the ancient Egyptians, the Chinese, and the Greeks, and it continues to be used in modern times by Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, Shintoists, and various Christian denominations, among others.
Incense is often used as a sacrificial offering to deities or spirits, but it also serves as an aid in prayer. In the Bible, for instance, we find that Zechariah was burning incense in the Temple when he was visited by an angelic messenger (Luke 1:10-11). The people were praying outside at the "hour of incense" (Exodus 30:1-8 describes God's instructions for offering incense twice daily). In the Revelation of John, incense symbolises the prayers of the saints in heaven: "a golden bowl full of incense [...] are the prayers of the saints" (Revelation 5:8).
Incense is used in Christian churches, including the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, Old Catholic, Methodist, Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, and Anglican churches. In Catholic Mass, for example, incense is swung by a server towards the bread and wine offered for the Eucharist, the consecrated Eucharist itself, and the Gospel during its proclamation. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, is believed to rise up to God.
In Hinduism, incense is offered to God in his various forms, such as Krishna and Rama. In East Asian Buddhist ceremonies, highly scented Chinese incense sticks are used, often made with large amounts of sandalwood, agarwood, or floral scents. The smoke from burning incense is believed to convey the prayers of the faithful to heaven. In Mandaeism, incense is offered on stands called kinta by Mandaean priests to establish communion between humans on Earth and celestial beings during rituals such as baptism and death masses.
Thus, incense has been and continues to be used in a variety of religious contexts, often as an aid or offering in prayer.
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Incense offerings were highly honourable
Incense has been used for thousands of years and is typically made from grains of resins, aromatic wood, bark, seeds, roots, and flowers, often mixed with spices. It is burned to produce a fragrant odour and is used in many cultures and religions as an oblation or offering.
In the Bible, incense offerings are mentioned several times, including in Luke 1:10, which refers to 'the hour of incense'. This is a specific time of day when incense was burned as a sacrifice to God. According to Exodus 30:1–8, this was to be done twice a day, morning and evening, using a purpose-built altar inside the Holy Place of the temple.
The honour associated with this sacrifice was so great that priests would cast lots to determine who would perform the ritual. In Luke 1, it is Zechariah's turn to offer incense. While he burns the incense, the people pray outside in the courtyard.
Incense offerings were also an important component of priestly liturgy in the Temple in Jerusalem. The sacred incense was made from costly materials contributed by the congregation, including sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense. The Book of Exodus describes God's instructions for the preparation of the incense:
> Take unto yourself sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And you shall make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together [salted], pure and holy: And you shall beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with...
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Incense was burnt with fire from the altar of burnt offerings
Incense played a significant role in the rituals of the Israelites, and this is reflected in the Bible. In Luke 1:10, it is noted that during the time for the burning of incense, the worshippers were gathered outside, praying. This is referred to as the "hour of incense".
The altar of incense was a vital object in these rituals. It was constructed from acacia wood, overlaid with gold, and had four "horns", one at each corner. This altar was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Testimony was located. The incense was to be kept burning continuously on this altar, symbolising the perpetual nature of Christ's mediation.
The fire used to burn the incense was always taken from the altar of burnt offerings, located outside the sanctuary. This act of burning incense was a sacred offering to the Lord and was performed twice daily, in the morning and at twilight. The incense itself was made according to a specific recipe given by God, and no other incense was permitted to be burned on this altar.
Zechariah, an ageing, childless priest, was chosen by lot to offer incense in the temple during this hour of incense. He performed the ritual alone, between the curtains separating the courtyard from the Holy Place. While he burnt the incense, the people outside prayed, and Zechariah was visited by an angelic messenger.
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Incense was always burning, symbolising constant prayer
The burning of incense is a significant ritual in the Bible, with the smoke of incense representing the prayers of the people rising to God. In Luke 1, during the time of incense, all the worshippers were praying outside while Zechariah, the chosen priest, burnt incense inside.
Incense was burnt twice daily, using a purpose-built altar located inside the Holy Place of the temple. The honour of making this offering to God was so great that lots were cast to determine which priest would perform the ritual. It is likely that Zechariah, an ageing, childless priest, was performing this duty for the first and only time in his life.
The burning of incense symbolised the holiness of prayer. As David prayed in Psalm 141:2, "May my prayer be set before you like incense". In Revelation 5:8, John describes a vision of heaven in which "the elders around the throne were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people".
The constant burning of incense symbolises the importance of constant prayer. Prayer, like incense, must be kindled with heaven's grace. The altar of incense can be seen as a representation of Christ's mediation on our behalf—his work on earth and in heaven.
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Frequently asked questions
The hour of incense in Luke 1 refers to the time of day when incense was burned as part of a religious ritual.
During the hour of incense, the people would pray outside while a priest burned incense inside the temple.
The hour of incense is significant because it represents the prayers of God's people rising up to God like the smoke of incense. It is also a symbol of Christ's mediation on our behalf.
