"The Sanhedrin had rejected Christ's message and was bent upon His death; therefore Jesus departed from Jerusalem, from the priests, the temple, the religious leaders, the people who had been instructed in the law, and turned to another class to proclaim His message, and to gather out those who should carry the gospel to all nations. DA 232.1"
"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof."
The EGW passage interprets Jesus' actions as a consequence of the Sanhedrin's rejection, mirroring the concept in Matthew 21:43 of the kingdom being taken from those who don't bear fruit.
As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ's withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render o…
"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."
The EGW passage draws a parallel between the rejection of Christ by the Jewish leaders and the rejection of the Reformers' message by established churches, similar to Paul and Barnabas turning to the Gentiles after being rejected by the Jews in Acts 13:46.
"The people of Galilee were despised by the rabbis of Jerusalem as rude and unlearned, yet they presented a more favorable field for the Saviour's work. They were more earnest and sincere; less under the control of bigotry; their minds were more open for the reception of truth. In going to Galilee, Jesus was not seeking seclusion or isolation. The province was at this time the home of a crowded population, with a much larger admixture of people of other nations than was found in Judea. DA 232.3"
"The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;"
The EGW passage describes Galilee as a place with a mixed population, which aligns with Matthew 4:15's description of it as "Galilee of the Gentiles." The EGW passage expands on the idea that Galilee was more receptive to Jesus's message than Judea.
"But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed."
EGW's passage directly contrasts the Galileans' openness to truth with the Jerusalem rabbis' disdain for them, echoing the sentiment in John 7:49 where the Pharisees dismiss those ignorant of the law as 'cursed.' The connection is more than just thematic; it's a specific application of the principle.
"villages. Many came even from Judea and the adjoining provinces. Often He was obliged to hide Himself from the people. The enthusiasm ran so high that it was necessary to take precautions lest the Roman authorities should be aroused to fear an insurrection. Never before had there been such a period as this for the world. Heaven was brought down to men. Hungering and thirsting souls that had waited long for the redemption of Israel now feasted upon the grace of a merciful Saviour. DA 232.4"
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
The EGW passage describes people 'hungering and thirsting' for redemption and being 'filled' by the Saviour's grace. This directly parallels the sentiment in Matthew 5:6, which speaks of those who hunger and thirst after righteousness being filled. The connection is strong and meaningful.