So Jesus; when asked a DIRECT question; has His words trumped by James?
God's Word is One. God cannot contradict Himself.
Besides, does faith without works make sense to you?
The demons have no works, but they believe. "The demons also believe --and shudder."
Hopefully, we can agree that the Book of James is inerrant and that the words of Martin Luther were not.
That said, James does not contradict Jesus. Faith, not manifest in and accompanied by works as described in the Beatitudes is indeed dead.
Peace be to you.