"When their terror was abated, the priests and elders, returning to the temple, had found Christ healing the sick and the dying. They had heard the voice of rejoicing and the song of praise. In the temple itself the children who had been restored to health were waving palm branches and singing hosannas to the Son of David. Baby voices were lisping the praises of the mighty Healer. Yet with the priests and elders all this did not suffice to overcome their prejudice and jealousy. COL 273.1"
"And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,"
EGW describes the events following the cleansing of the temple, including the healing of the sick, children singing hosannas, and the priests' displeasure, all of which are found in Matthew 21:14-15. This is a clear thematic parallel.
"The next day, as Christ was teaching in the temple, the chief priests and elders of the people came to Him and said, “By what authority doest Thou these things? and who gave Thee this authority?” COL 273.2"
"And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?"
EGW directly quotes Matthew 21:23, making it a clear explicit allusion.
"The priests and elders had had unmistakable evidence of Christ's power. In His cleansing of the temple they had seen Heaven's authority flashing from His face. They could not resist the power by which He spoke. Again in His wonderful deeds of healing He had answered their question. He had given evidence of His authority which could not be controverted. But it was not evidence that was wanted. The priests and elders were anxious for Jesus to proclaim Himself the Messiah that they might misapply His words and stir up the people against Him. They wished to destroy His influence and to put Him to death. COL 273.3"
"And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?"
Both passages discuss the chief priests and elders questioning Jesus' authority in the temple. EGW elaborates on their motives and the evidence they had already received.
"Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me."
Both passages discuss Jesus' works as evidence of his authority and the unbelief of religious leaders despite this evidence. EGW amplifies the context of the leaders' motives.
"Jesus knew that if they could not recognize God in Him or see in His works the evidence of His divine character, they would not believe His own testimony that He was the Christ. In His answer He evades the issue they hope to bring about and turns the condemnation upon themselves. “I also will ask you one thing,” He said, “which if ye tell Me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” COL 273.4"
"But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me."
Both passages discuss Jesus' response to the questioning of his authority, and how he uses their own words against them. While John 5:36 speaks of the works bearing witness, the EGW passage is about the specific encounter in Matthew 21.