Why is Jesus called “the King of Kings”?

Some have associated the title “Messiah” with the title “King.” In the Old Testament, the Messiah was the eternal and righteous King, anointed to restore the lost tabernacle of David. His kingdom shall extend to the ends of the earth and its law is divine truth and justice. Here are some prophecies about this wonderous Person, the Heavenly King, whose Kingdom is above all:

“I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness ; A king will reign and prosper and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth” (Jer. 23:5).

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom . You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than You companions … At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir …” (Ps. 45:6–9).

“Give the king Your judgment, O God, and Your righteousness to the king’s Son. He will judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with justice … He shall have dominion also from sea to sea , and from river to the ends of the earth” (Ps. 72:1–2, 8).

“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nation, and

722 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on John , 81.1 (NPNF I/14:297).

723 St. Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, or Miscellanies 5.1 (ANF 2:444).

724 Origen, Against Celsus 6.62 (ANF 4:488).

languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed ” (Dan. 7:13–14).

The Magi realized that He who was born is the King of the Jews (Matt. 2:2). The annunciation of His birth was clear to St. Mary, that He who will be born will be enthroned as a King, and His kingdom shall have no end: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:32– 33).

In his gospel, Matthew the evangelist speaks of the Lord Christ as King, and this gospel deals with those matters concerning the King and His kingdom. The New Testament reveals the Church as the kingdom of God. When the Jews led Jesus to Pilate, their accusation against Him was that He said of Himself that He is the Christ, the King (Luke 23:1–3): “Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice’” (John 18:37).

The kingdom of the Lord Christ is unique in terms of its practical revelation of divine love:

As the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He raises from among His people a queen sitting at His right hand (Ps. 45:13).

As a King, who loves us, He hides our life in Himself (Col. 3:3) so that we might not be left exposed in the war against the devil.

As the heavenly King, He grants us the ability to raise our hearts above all that is earthly (Rom. 8:21).

St. John Chrysostom says, “And what is, ‘anointed,’ and ‘sealed?’ He gave the Spirit by Whom He did both these things, making at once prophets and priests and kings, for in old times these three sorts were anointed. But we have now not one of these dignities, but all three preeminently. For we are both to enjoy a kingdom and are made priests by offering our bodies for a sacrifice, (for, he says, ‘present your members as a living sacrifice to God’ (Rom. 12:1); and we are also made prophets too: for what things ‘eye has not seen, nor ear heard’ (1 Cor. 2:9), these have been revealed to us.”⁷²⁵

The scholar Origen says, “And again we learn that he who drinks the chalice that Jesus drank will sit, reign, and judge beside the King of Kings. Such, then, is the chalice of salvation: he who takes it will call upon the name of the Lord , and whoever shall call upon

725 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Second Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians 3.4 (NPNF I/12:290) amended.

the name of the Lord shall be saved (Joel 2:32).”⁷²⁶ In the liturgy according to St. James we find this hymn:

“Let all mortal flesh keep silent, and with fear and trembling stand.

Ponder nothing earthly-minded, for the King of kings, Christ our God,

advances to be slain and given as food to the faithful.”⁷²⁷

St. Jacob of Sarug says, “How can the King of Kings and Lord of All Lords dwell in a soul filled with rotten sludge? Expel all the evil of evil inclinations from your soul; then the King will come to dwell in you with His great army,”⁷²⁸