"building to increase facilities there. We were instructed not to accumulate interests in that one place, but to enlarge our sphere of labor. There was danger that Battle Creek would become as Jerusalem of old—a powerful center. If we do not heed these warnings, the evils that ruined Jerusalem will come upon us. Pride, self- exaltation, neglect of the poor, and partiality to the wealthy—these were the sins of Jerusalem. Today when large interests are built up in one place, the workers are tempted to become lifted up in selfishness and pride. When they yield to this temptation they are not laborers together with God. Instead of seeking to increase our responsibilities in Battle Creek, we should bravely and willingly divide the responsibilities already there, distributing them to many places. 8T 133.3"
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
EGW draws a parallel between the sins that led to Jerusalem's downfall and the potential sins of Battle Creek. The verse from Matthew highlights Jesus' lament over Jerusalem's rejection of Him, which is connected to the sins EGW mentions.
"Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy."
EGW directly lists 'Pride, self-exaltation, neglect of the poor, and partiality to the wealthy' as sins of Jerusalem. Ezekiel 16:49 lists similar sins for Sodom, including pride and neglecting the poor. This is a clear thematic parallel.