View source for Rambam Messiah Criteria

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= Rambam’s Messiah criteria (Maimonides) =

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== Why this matters ==
In modern Jewish-Christian debate, a common baseline for “who qualifies as Messiah?” is Rambam (Maimonides), ''Mishneh Torah'', ''Kings and Wars'' (Hilchot Melachim uMilchamot), especially chapters 11–12.

== What Rambam says (summary) ==
Rambam describes the Messiah as a Davidic king who:
* restores Davidic rule and Torah observance
* fights the wars of the Lord (in Rambam’s framing)
* rebuilds the Temple
* gathers the exiles of Israel
* ushers in an era characterized by knowledge of God and peace (expanded in ch. 12)

== The “presumption” test ==
Rambam distinguishes between:
* someone who may be “presumed Messiah,” and
* the confirmed Messiah, if he succeeds in rebuilding the Temple and gathering exiles.

== Primary sources ==
<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Kings_and_Wars.11?lang=en Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars 11], ''Sefaria'' (accessed 2026-01-18)</ref>
<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Kings_and_Wars.12?lang=en Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars 12], ''Sefaria'' (accessed 2026-01-18)</ref>
<ref>[https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1188356/jewish/Melachim-uMilchamot-Chapter-11.htm Melachim uMilchamot – Chapter 11], ''Chabad.org'' (accessed 2026-01-18)</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Did_Jesus_Meet_Rambam_Criteria]]
* [[Messiah_Expectations_Peace_Temple_Gathering]]

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