The Messiah as a Religious Leader

According to Maimonides (Mishneh Torah, Kings 11:4), the Messiah will be a king from the house of David who studies the Torah, observes the commandments, and inspires the Jews to follow him. His status as the Messiah will be confirmed if he conquers the surrounding nations, rebuilds the Temple, and brings back the exiles. Thus he will be religious and learned, but he will primarily be a military leader, not a scholar or teacher. Many of the Tannaim, including Rabbi Akiva, believed that Bar Kochva was the Messiah until his rebellion failed. Bar Kochva was a military leader; he was an observant Jew, but not a Rabbi and so not a religious leader in the usual sense, and the Tannaim had no special roles as spiritual leaders in Bar Kochva’s government. Since the Messiah will be a descendant of David in the male line, he will not be a Kohen. As to the question of which is greater, a military leader (such as a king), a Kohen, or a religious leader, see Mishnah Avos 4:13, which refers to the crowns of Torah, priesthood, and kingship, without giving any of them priority over the others.