<p>2:17<i> Even so, faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself</i>- This is in the context of the previous eight verses which have been reprimanding the readers for the lack of a loving mind. These are the &quot;works&quot; which were lacking, as well as the physical &quot;works&quot; of giving material support. There must be a connection here with Christ's words: &quot;Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit&quot; (Jn. 12:24). If this connection is valid, then James is equating faith with the seed of wheat. The seed represents the word (Lk. 8:11; 1 Pet. 1:23), supremely manifested in the Lord Jesus. The equation is because &quot;Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God&quot;. Thus James is saying that the word seed in us should bring forth fruit in our caring for others, in the same way as Jesus died in order to bring forth much spiritual fruit in us. The rich brethren needed to make the same kind of short term sacrifice due to the effect of the word in their lives, in order to care for their brethren's welfare, as Jesus did for them. It is significant that in v.26 faith is likened to a dead body, which is the same figure being used here in v.17.</p>