20 Now while I was speaking and praying , and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel , and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God , 21 while I was still speaking in prayer , then the man Gabriel , whom I had seen in the vision previously , came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering . 22 He gave me instruction and talked with me and said , "O Daniel , I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding . 23 "At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued , and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed ; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision . 24 "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city , to finish the transgression , to make an end of sin , to make atonement for iniquity , to bring in everlasting righteousness , to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. 25 "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two e weeks ; it will be built again , with plaza and moat , even in times of distress . 26 "Then after the sixty-two e weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing , and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary . And its end will come with a flood ; even to the end there will be war ; desolations are determined . 27 "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week , but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering ; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate , even until a complete destruction , one that is decreed , is poured out on the one who makes desolate ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Daniel 9:20-27
Commentary on Daniel 9:20-27
(Read Daniel 9:20-27)
An answer was immediately sent to Daniel's prayer, and it is a very memorable one. We cannot now expect that God should send answers to our prayers by angels, but if we pray with fervency for that which God has promised, we may by faith take the promise as an immediate answer to the prayer; for He is faithful that has promised. Daniel had a far greater and more glorious redemption discovered to him, which God would work out for his church in the latter days. Those who would be acquainted with Christ and his grace, must be much in prayer. The evening offering was a type of the great sacrifice Christ was to offer in the evening of the world: in virtue of that sacrifice Daniel's prayer was accepted; and for the sake of that, this glorious discovery of redeeming love was made to him. We have, in verses 24-27, one of the most remarkable prophecies of Christ, of his coming and his salvation. It shows that the Jews are guilty of most obstinate unbelief, in expecting another Messiah, so long after the time expressly fixed for his coming. The seventy weeks mean a day for a year, or 490 years. About the end of this period a sacrifice would be offered, making full atonement for sin, and bringing in everlasting righteousness for the complete justification of every believer. Then the Jews, in the crucifixion of Jesus, would commit that crime by which the measure of their guilt would be filled up, and troubles would come upon their nation. All blessings bestowed on sinful man come through Christ's atoning sacrifice, who suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Here is our way of access to the throne of grace, and of our entrance to heaven. This seals the sum of prophecy, and confirms the covenant with many; and while we rejoice in the blessings of salvation, we should remember what they cost the Redeemer. How can those escape who neglect so great salvation!