Messiah

Messiah in Judaism

Concept of Messiah

  • In Jewish tradition, the Messiah is a future Jewish king from the Davidic line.
  • The term “Messiah” originates from the Hebrew word “Mashiach” which means “anointed one”. In the Jewish context, this refers to a future Jewish leader anointed with holy anointing oil.
  • The role of the Messiah is to rebuild the holy Temple in Jerusalem, gather all Jews back to the Land of Israel, and lead the Jewish people in the observance of religious law.
  • Jews do not believe that the Messiah will be divine or preexistent, but a human being chosen by God.

Awaited Messiah

  • Judaism holds the belief in an awaited Messiah who will establish the Kingdom of God on Earth.
  • It is important to note that many orthodox Jews believe Messiah has not yet come and they are still awaiting Messiah’s arrival.
  • The belief in the coming of the Messiah and the messianic age is a fundamental part of Judaism.

Messianic Era

  • The arrival of the Messiah will usher in what is known as the Messianic Era, a time of peace, prosperity, and heightened spirituality.
  • During this era, it is believed that all nations will recognise the Jewish God as the only true God, and Israel will be the spiritual centre of the world.

Role of Torah in Messiah’s Identification

  • The Torah and Talmud are used to define the characteristics and responsibilities of the Messiah.
  • These include his lineage from the House of David, his devotion to Jewish law, his role as a guide and teacher, as well as his role in building the third temple.

False Messiahs

  • Throughout history, several Jewish individuals have claimed to be the Messiah or have been declared so by their followers, often leading to significant schisms within the Jewish community.
  • For example, Shimon Bar Kokhba, who led a revolt against the Romans in 132–135 CE, was considered a messiah by many of his followers.

Controversy with Christianity

  • Jewish tradition largely reject the Christian belief that Jesus was the Messiah as this contradicts several Jewish beliefs outlined in the Torah and Talmud.
  • This is a significant area of diifference between the two religions as belief in Jesus as the Messiah is central to Christianity.

Maimonides’ Principles of Faith

  • The scholar Maimonides, in his 13 Principles of Faith, states that every Jew should believe in the coming of the Messiah and “even though he may tarry, I wait every day for his coming”.
  • This demonstrates the importance and relevance of the Messiah in Jewish thought and practise.