"Preoccupy the Soil The best way to prevent the growth of evil is to preoccupy the soil. Instead of recommending your children to read Robinson Crusoe , or fascinating stories of real life, such as Uncle Tom's Cabin , open the Scriptures to them, and spend some time each day in reading and studying God's word. The mental tastes must be disciplined and educated with the greatest care. Parents must begin early to unfold the Scriptures to the expanding minds of their children, that proper habits of thought may be formed. CT 136"
"But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way."
Both passages deal with the idea of planting good things to prevent the growth of bad. Matthew 13:25 speaks of the enemy sowing tares, while EGW speaks of preoccupying the soil with good reading. The connection is thematic and relevant.
"We are constantly surrounded by unbelief. The very atmosphere seems charged with it. Only by constant effort can we resist its power. Those who value their salvation should shun infidel writings as they would shun the leprosy. CT 136.1"
"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."
Both passages encourage resisting negative influences. The EGW passage speaks of resisting unbelief, while the Bible verse speaks of resisting afflictions. The connection is thematic, but not a strong or direct allusion.
"reading should be overcome at once. Rigid rules should be enforced to hold the mind in the proper channel. CT 136.3 Between an uncultivated field and an untrained mind there is a striking similarity. In the minds of children and youth the enemy sows tares, and unless parents keep watchful guard, these will spring up to bear their evil fruit. Unceasing care is needed in cultivating the soil of the mind and sowing it with the precious seed of Bible truth. Children should be taught to reject trashy, exciting tales, and to turn to sensible reading, which will lead the mind to take an interest in Bible story, history, and argument. Reading that will throw light upon the Sacred Volume and quicken the desire to study it is not dangerous, but beneficial. CT 136.4"
"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."
EGW explicitly refers to the parable of the tares and wheat, drawing a direct parallel between the uncultivated mind and the field where the enemy sows tares. This is more than a thematic parallel; it's a direct application of the parable.