"One great reason why there is so much evil in the world today is that parents occupy their minds with other things to the exclusion of the work that is all-important—the task of patiently and kindly teaching their children the way of the Lord. Parents should allow nothing to prevent them from giving to their children all the time that is necessary to make them understand what it means to obey and trust the Lord fully. CT 129.1"
"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."
The EGW passage directly echoes the principle of Deuteronomy 6:6-7, emphasizing the importance of parents diligently teaching their children about God and His ways. Both passages highlight the need for parents to prioritize this task and dedicate time to it.
"Before visitors, before every other consideration, your children should come first. The time spent in needless sewing, God would have you spend in educating them in essential things. That unnecessary garment you are making, that extra dish you think you will prepare—let it be neglected rather than the education of your children. The labor due your child during its early years will admit of no neglect. There is no time in its life when the rule should be forgotten, Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little. Deny your children anything rather than the instruction which, if faithfully followed, will make them good and useful members of society, and will prepare them for citizenship in the kingdom of heaven. CT 129.2"
"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:"
EGW directly quotes and applies the phrase 'line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little' from Isaiah 28:10 in the context of child education.
"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."
Both passages emphasize the importance of diligently teaching children. EGW applies this principle to prioritizing education over material concerns, while Deuteronomy provides a general command to teach God's laws.