Echoes in James of the Sermon on the Mount
John Hepp, Jr.
These echoes are listed in the order in which they first occur in James. Columns 2 and 4 generally contain exact quotations from the NIV—but sometimes summaries.

REFERENCE IN JAMES WORDS OR THOUGHT THAT ECHO S/MT. REFERENCE IN MATT. 5-7 WORDS OR THOUGHT ECHOED IN JAMES
1:2 Consider it pure joy…when you face trials 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righ-teousness…rejoice and be glad.
1:4 so that you may be mature (Gr. teleion) and complete 5:48 Be perfect (Gr. teleioi)…as your heavenly Father is per-fect (Gr. teleios).
1:5; 4:2
He should ask God.
You do not have because you do not ask. 7:7-11 The Father will give good gifts to those who ask him.
1:5, 17 God who gives generously to all…every good and perfect gift. 6:4, 6, 26-33; 7:11 Your Father…will reward you—will provide all your need just as He feeds the birds and clothes the grass—will give good gifts to those who ask Him.
1:6-8; 5:15-18 When he asks, he must believe and not doubt…or will not receive anything. 7:7-8 Ask (lit. keep on asking) and it will be given to you.
1:9
(cf. 2:2-5) The brother in humble cir-cumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 5:3-5 (Luke 6:20-21) Blessed are the poor in spirit (Luke, poor), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.…The meek…will inherit the earth.
1:12; 5:11 Blessed is the one who stands the test. 5:3-11 (7:25, 27) Blessed are…(ch. 7 pictures the test)
1:12 crown of life…promised to those who love him 7:14 the road that leads to life
1:19-20; 3:1-10 Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
(Control or lack of control of the tongue) 7:1-5; 5:22 Do not judge.…first take the plank out of your own eye. Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.
1:20 bring about the righteous life that God desires 5:6 hunger and thirst for righteousness
1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word…do what it says. 7:24-27, 21-23 Everyone who hears these words…and puts them into practice is like a wise man. Not everyone who says to me “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father.
1:26 keep a tight rein on his tongue 7:4 How can you say…“Let me take the speck out…”?
1:27 religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress 6:1-2 your acts of righteousness …when you give to the needy
2:5 Has not God chosen those who are poor…to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom…? See for Js. 1:9. See for Js. 1:9.
2:8 the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself” 5:43-47; 7:12 Love your enemies. Do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 5:17-19 Anyone who breaks (lit, cancels) one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.
2:11 Do not commit adultery…Do not murder 5:27, 21 [same commands]
2:13 judgment without mercy…to anyone who has not been merciful 5:7; 6:14-15 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. If you forgive men when they sin…your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
2:14-26 can faith without deeds save? 7:21-23 See for Js. 1:22-25.
3:1-2 (see 4:11) We who teach will be judged more strictly. 7:1-2 Do not judge, or you too will be judged…in the same way …and with the measure you use.
3:13 Who is wise…? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds.… 7:24 (5:1-2) Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man.…(They followed Him to learn.)
3:16; 4:1-3 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find…every evil practice. 6:22-23 If your eyes are bad (=covetous), your whole body will be full of darkness.
3:17-18 The…wisdom…from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving.… 5:8-9 Blessed are the pure in heart…the peacemakers.…
4:4 friendship with the world is hatred toward God 6:24 No one can serve two masters…he will hate the one and love the other or.…
4:6 God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 5:5, 38-42 Blessed are the meek.… Do not resist an evil person.
4:8-10; 5:16 mourn and wail…humble yourselves 5:3-5, 23-26; 6:12 Blessed are those who mourn. Be reconciled to your brother. Forgive us our debts.
4:11-12; 5:9 Do not slander one another; Don’t grumble against each other. 7:1-5; 5:4 Do not judge.…In the same way you judge others, you will be judged. Love your enemies.
4:13-15 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will…make money.” 6:34 Do not worry about tomorrow.
5:1-6 You rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. (Luke 6:24-25) Woe to you…rich, for you have already received your comfort.
5:2-3 (You rich), your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 6:19-21 treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy (not so in heaven)
5:9 The Judge is standing at the door. 7:21-23 Jesus promises to judge “on that day.”
5:10 As an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets.… 5:12 in the same way they persecuted the prophets
5:11 The Lord is full of compas-sion and mercy 6:26, 30, 32 Your heavenly Father feeds [the birds]…clothes the grass…knows that you need.…
5:12 Do not swear…by anything …let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.…” 5:33-37 Do not swear at all.…Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.…”
5:15-16 If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other.… 6:12-15 Forgive us our debts…If you forgive men…your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
5:16 The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 7:7-8 Ask and it will be given to you; seek…knock.