"Chapter 29—Words of Caution Christ said to His disciples: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16 . Satan's attacks against the advocates of the truth will wax more bitter and determined to the very close of time. As in Christ's day the chief priests and rulers stirred up the people against Him, so today the religious leaders will excite bitterness and prejudice against the truth for this time. The people will be led to acts of violence and opposition which they would never have thought of had they not been imbued with the animosity of professed Christians against the truth. 9T 239"
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
Ellen White directly references Matthew 10:16 in this passage.
"What course shall the advocates of truth pursue? They have the unchangeable, eternal word of God, and they should reveal the fact that they have the truth as it is in Jesus. Their words must not be rugged and sharp. In their presentation of truth they must manifest the love and meekness and gentleness of Christ. Let the truth do the cutting; the word of God is as a sharp, two-edged sword and will cut its way to the heart. Those who know that they have the truth should not, by the use of harsh and severe expressions, give Satan one chance to misinterpret their spirit. 9T 239.2"
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
The EGW passage uses the metaphor of the 'two-edged sword' to describe the word of God, which is a direct reference to Hebrews 4:12. The context of the passage further reinforces this connection.
"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;"
The EGW passage emphasizes meekness, gentleness, and love in presenting truth, which aligns with the virtues mentioned in Ephesians 4:2. While not a direct quote, the thematic overlap is significant.
"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"
Both passages emphasize gentleness and meekness in dealing with opposition and acknowledge the power of truth/God's word to convict. The EGW passage amplifies the principle of gentleness in instruction found in 2 Timothy.
"As a people we must stand as did the world's Redeemer. When in controversy with Satan in regard to the body of Moses, Christ durst not bring against him a railing accusation. He had every provocation to do this, and Satan was disappointed because he could not arouse in Christ a spirit of retaliation. Satan was ready to misinterpret everything that was done by Jesus; and the Saviour would give him no occasion, not the semblance of an excuse. He would not turn from His straightforward course of truth in order to follow the wanderings and twistings and turnings and prevarications of Satan. 9T 239.3"
"Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee."
The EGW passage directly references the story of Michael and Satan from Jude 1:9 and uses it as an example of restraint and avoiding railing accusations, even when provoked. It expands on the principle of not giving Satan an opportunity to misinterpret actions.