"The Lord could carry forward His work without our co-operation. He is not dependent on us for our money, our time, or our labor. But the church is very precious in His sight. It is the case which contains His jewels, the fold which encloses His flock, and He longs to see it without spot or blemish or any such thing. He yearns after it with unspeakable love. This is why He has given us opportunities to work for Him, and He accepts our labors as tokens of our love and loyalty. 6T 261.3"
"That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
EGW directly uses the phrase 'without spot or blemish' which is a key phrase in Ephesians 5:27, making it an explicit allusion.
"And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him."
Both passages refer to God's people as jewels. While not a direct quote, the thematic connection is clear and meaningful.
"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine."
Both passages use the metaphor of a flock and a shepherd to describe the relationship between God and His people. The connection is thematic, though not a direct quote or explicit allusion.
"In placing among us the poor and the suffering, the Lord is testing us to reveal to us what is in our hearts. We cannot with safety swerve from principle, we cannot violate justice, we cannot neglect mercy. When we see a brother falling into decay we are not to pass him by on the other side, but are to make decided and immediate efforts to fulfill the word of God by helping him. We cannot work contrary to God's special directions without having the result of our work reflect upon us. It should be firmly settled, rooted, and grounded in the conscience, that whatever dishonors God in our course of action cannot benefit us. 6T 261.4"
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
EGW's statement about helping the poor and suffering directly reflects the principle taught in Matthew 25:40, where Jesus equates acts of service to the 'least of these' with service to Himself.
"And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side."
EGW's phrase 'pass him by on the other side' is a direct allusion to the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:31-32.
"If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth."
The EGW passage directly echoes the principle of Deuteronomy 15:7-8, emphasizing the importance of helping the poor and not turning away from their needs. The language and sentiment are very similar.