"If Jesus had paid the tribute without a protest, He would virtually have acknowledged the justice of the claim, and would thus have denied His divinity. But while He saw good to meet the demand, He denied the claim upon which it was based. In providing for the payment of the tribute He gave evidence of His divine character. It was made manifest that He was one with God, and therefore was not under tribute as a mere subject of the kingdom. DA 434.1"
"I and my Father are one."
The EGW passage directly connects Jesus' actions in the tribute story to his claim of unity with the Father, as stated in John 10:30. While not a direct quote, it uses the principle of Jesus' divinity to explain his actions.
"“Go thou to the sea,” He directed Peter, “and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for Me and thee.” DA 434.2"
"Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."
This is a direct quotation of Matthew 17:27.
"Though He had clothed His divinity with humanity, in this miracle He revealed His glory. It was evident that this was He who through David had declared, “Every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains; and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.” Psalm 50:10-12 . DA 434.3"
"For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills."
This is a direct quotation of Psalm 50:10.
"For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof."
Ellen White directly references Psalms 50:10-12 in this passage.
"While Jesus made it plain that He was under no obligation to pay the tribute, He entered into no controversy with the Jews in regard to the matter; for they would have misinterpreted His words, and turned them against Him. Lest He should give offense by withholding the tribute, He did that which He could not justly be required to do. This lesson would be of great value to His disciples. Marked changes were soon to take place in their relation to the temple service, and Christ taught them not to place themselves needlessly in antagonism to established order. So far as possible, they were to avoid giving occasion for misinterpretation of their faith. While Christians are not to sacrifice one principle of truth, they should avoid controversy whenever it is possible to do so. DA 434.4"
"If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."
The EGW passage discusses avoiding unnecessary conflict and misinterpretation of faith, which aligns with the principle of living peaceably with all men as much as possible, as stated in Romans 12:18.
"When Christ and the disciples were alone in the house, while Peter was gone to the sea, Jesus called the others to Him, and asked, “What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?” The presence of Jesus, and His question, put the matter in an entirely different light from that in which it had appeared to them while they were contending by the way. Shame and self-condemnation kept them silent. Jesus had told them that He was to die for their sake, and their selfish ambition was in painful contrast to His unselfish love. DA 434.5"
"And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?"
The EGW passage directly references and expands upon the event described in Mark 9:33, where Jesus questions his disciples about their argument on the road.