"This parable does not excuse those who hear the first call to labor but who neglect to enter the Lord's vineyard. When the householder went to the market place at the eleventh hour and found men unemployed he said, “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” The answer was, “Because no man hath hired us.” None of those called later in the day were there in the morning. They had not refused the call. Those who refuse and afterward repent, do well to repent; but it is not safe to trifle with the first call of mercy. COL 399.1"
"And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive."
The EGW passage directly quotes and references Matthew 20:6-7, making it a clear explicit allusion.
"When the laborers in the vineyard received “every man a penny,” those who had begun work early in the day were offended. Had they not worked for twelve hours? they reasoned, and was it not right that they should receive more than those who had worked for only one hour in the cooler part of the day? “These last have wrought but one hour,” they said, “and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.” COL 399.2"
"And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day."
The EGW passage directly quotes and references Matthew 20:11-12, making it a clear and explicit allusion to the biblical text. The context and wording are nearly identical.
"Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day."
The EGW passage directly quotes and references Matthew 20:12, making it a clear explicit allusion.
"“Friend,” the householder replied to one of them, “I do thee no wrong; didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way; I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? COL 399.3"
"But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?"
EGW directly quotes Matthew 20:13-15.
"But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?"
The EGW passage directly quotes and references Matthew 20:13, making it a clear explicit allusion.
"“So the last shall be first, and the first last; for many be called, but few chosen.” COL 399.4"
"So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."
EGW directly quotes Matthew 20:16.
"their work a loving, trusting spirit, they would continue to be first; but their querulous, complaining disposition is un-Christlike, and proves them to be untrustworthy. It reveals their desire for self-advancement, their distrust of God, and their jealous, grudging spirit toward their brethren. The Lord's goodness and liberality is to them only an occasion of murmuring. Thus they show that there is no connection between their souls and God. They do not know the joy of co-operation with the Master Worker. COL 399.5"
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
The EGW passage discusses the negative consequences of a self-seeking spirit, contrasting it with a loving and trusting spirit. This aligns with Philippians 2:3, which encourages humility and considering others better than oneself, thus avoiding strife and vainglory.