What we read in the previous verse, Daniel 9:26, has everything to do with the strong alliance that is discussed at the beginning of this verse. This is still about the anointed one, about Jesus Christ. He makes a strong covenant with many. When the Lord Jesus comes to the world, he comes to the covenant people. He is the Son of God and that is exactly why the covenant he makes is so strong. Therefore, the rejection of him means that the covenant penalty comes upon Jerusalem. This also explains why God’s judgment comes upon the temple and Israel’s existence as a nation.
When Pilate says that he cannot find fault in Jesus, all the people cry out, His blood be on us and on our children
(Matthew 27:25). The Lord Jesus had said before that if the people rejected him, they would lose Israel as their nation. We read this in Matthew 23:37–38: Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate.
Once again we are told that the sacrificial service will end. The ultimate reason is Christ who fulfilled the covenant of God. It is the Lord Jesus who, with his sacrifice, fulfilled all the sacrifices and the entire service in the temple. All of this came to its end with his sacrifice on the cross. From the moment the Lord Jesus called out from the cross, it is finished,
the temple service as a ministry of atonement lost its significance. The Lord then shows that the sacrifices no longer have any meaning. He does this by allowing the curtain in the temple to be torn from top to bottom. In doing so he says that every person can now come to him in the temple without blood sacrifices, for Christ offered the perfect sacrifice.
Sacrifices are no longer made, and the city and temple are in ruins once again. These things also have a lot of meaning for us today. It shows that the Lord carries out his plan. It shows us that in his plan the covenant punishment also has a clear place. When we speak of the covenant punishment it is not about people who are outside of the church. God’s judgment does not begin outside the church but in the church. We read this very clearly in 1 Peter 4:17–18: For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?
27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”