"The Pharisees were utterly perplexed and disconcerted. One whom they could not intimidate was in command. Jesus had taken His position as guardian of the temple. Never before had He assumed such kingly authority. Never before had His words and works possessed so great power. He had done marvelous works throughout Jerusalem, but never before in a manner so solemn and impressive. In presence of the people who had witnessed His wonderful works, the priests and rulers dared not show Him open hostility. Though enraged and confounded by His answer, they were unable to accomplish anything further that day. DA 593.1"
"And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?"
The EGW passage describes the immediate aftermath of the event described in Matthew 21:23, amplifying the scene and the reaction of the Pharisees to Jesus' authority.
The next morning the Sanhedrin again considered what course to pursue toward Jesus. Three years before, they had demanded a sign of His Messiahship. Since that time He had wrought mighty works throughout the land. He had healed the sick, miraculously fed thousands of people, walked upon the waves, and spoken peace to the troubled sea. He had repeatedly read the hearts of men as an open book; He had cast out demons, and raised the dead. The rulers had before them the evidences of His Messiahship. They now decided to demand no sign of His authority, but to draw out some admission or declaration by which He might be condemned. DA 593.2 Repairing to the temple where He was teaching, they proceeded to question Him: “By what authority doest Thou these things? and who gave Thee this authority?” They expected Him to claim that His authority was from God. Such an assertion they intended to deny. But Jesus met them with a question apparently pertaining to another subject, and He made His reply t…
"Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me."
Both passages deal with the Jewish leaders questioning Jesus' authority and the evidence of His works. While not a direct quote, the EGW passage refers to the works of Jesus as evidence of His Messiahship, echoing the sentiment in John 10:25.
"But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet."
The EGW passage directly references the people's belief that John was a prophet, which is the exact reason the priests feared answering Jesus in Matthew 21:26. This is more than a thematic parallel; it's a direct allusion to the specific detail that motivated the priests' response.