This little money was to Judas a continual temptation, and from time to time, when he did a little service for Christ, or devoted a little time to religious purposes, he paid himself out of the meager fund collected to advance the light of the gospel. He finally became so penurious that he made bitter complaint because the ointment poured upon the head of Jesus was expensive. He turned it over and over in his mind, and counted the money that might have been placed in his hands to expend if that ointment had been sold. His selfishness grew stronger until he felt that the treasury had really met with a great loss in not receiving the value of the ointment in money. He finally made open complaint of the extravagance of this expensive offering to Christ. Our Saviour rebuked him for this covetousness. This rankled in the heart of Judas, until, for a small sum of money, he consented to betray his Lord. There will be those among Sabbathkeepers who are no truer at heart than was Judas; but the…
"This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein."
The EGW passage directly references Judas's complaint about the ointment and connects it to his covetousness, which is explicitly mentioned in John 12:6. The passage directly alludes to the biblical account of Judas's actions and motivations.
"Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:"
The EGW statement directly echoes the sentiment expressed in Revelation 3:17, where those who are spiritually blind and poor claim to be rich and in need of nothing. The connection is clear and meaningful.
"The dear children of Brother D should plead with Jesus to reveal to them their sinfulness, and then ask Him to reveal Himself as their sin-pardoning Saviour. These precious children must not be deceived and miss eternal life. Except they are converted they cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. They must wash their robes of character in the blood of the Lamb. Jesus invites them to take the steps that sinners must take in order to become His children. He has given them an example in life in submitting to the ordinance of baptism. He is our example in all things. 4T 42.3"
"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."
The EGW passage directly quotes and expands upon the principle stated in Matthew 18:3, emphasizing the necessity of conversion and childlike faith for entering the kingdom of heaven. The reference to washing robes in the blood of the Lamb is also a clear allusion to Revelation.