Daniel 9:24, 26
Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. …And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself.
This prophecy was given to Daniel during his prayer of confession on behalf of Israel. The angel Gabriel announces a divinely appointed timetable within which God would accomplish six redemptive purposes: finish transgression, end sins, make reconciliation for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and anoint the Most Holy. These describe nothing less than the complete redemption of humanity. The agent of the prophecy is the Messiah, the Prince, who will come and who will be cut off.
The phrase, the Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself points to a Messiah who dies and dies not for His own sins but for others. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Romans 3:25-26 presents Jesus as the One whom God set forth as a PROPITIATION by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Every one of the six redemptive purposes in Daniel 9:24 finds its fulfilment at the cross and resurrection of Jesus. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5a). Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin (Romans 6:6-7). For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:19-20). For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17). Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17). But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-12).
This prophecy is a declaration of the certainty of our salvation. The six purposes God set out to accomplish have been accomplished in Christ. There is no unfinished business at the cross. We stand in the full light of everlasting righteousness, received through faith in the Messiah who was cut off in our place.
Daniel received this prophecy while praying over Israel’s exile. God’s answer was not an explanation of why things had gone wrong, but a revelation of the perfect plan already in motion. When life feels chaotic or God feels silent, we are reminded that God is never without a plan, and God’s plans are never late.
Prayer points:
- Thank God that the penalty of your sin was carried by Christ so that you might receive His righteousness freely and fully.
- Pray for confidence in the finished work of the cross.
- Ask God to strengthen your trust in God’s sovereign timetable.
