"Satan was bent on shutting out the divine light from the world, and he used his utmost cunning to destroy the Saviour. But He who never slumbers nor sleeps was watching over His beloved Son. He who had rained manna from heaven for Israel and had fed Elijah in the time of famine provided in a heathen land a refuge for Mary and the child Jesus. And through the gifts of the magi from a heathen country, the Lord supplied the means for the journey into Egypt and the sojourn in a land of strangers. DA 65.1"
"Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."
The EGW passage explicitly references God's protection of Jesus, drawing a parallel to God's care for Israel and Elijah, and directly quotes the idea that God 'never slumbers nor sleeps' which is from Psalms 121:4.
"feet. And through that gift, what privilege of ministry was theirs! The offering from the heart that loves, God delights to honor, giving it highest efficiency in service for Him. If we have given our hearts to Jesus, we also shall bring our gifts to Him. Our gold and silver, our most precious earthly possessions, our highest mental and spiritual endowments, will be freely devoted to Him who loved us, and gave Himself for us. DA 65.2"
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
The EGW passage emphasizes giving gifts to God out of love and devotion, which aligns with the principle in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that God loves a cheerful giver. The connection is strong and represents a core principle of Christian giving.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Both passages emphasize the idea of Christ's love and sacrifice as the motivation for devotion and service. Galatians 2:20 speaks of Christ giving Himself for us, and the EGW passage echoes this by stating that our gifts should be devoted to Him 'who loved us, and gave Himself for us.'
"Herod in Jerusalem impatiently awaited the return of the wise men. As time passed, and they did not appear, his suspicions were roused. The unwillingness of the rabbis to point out the Messiah's birthplace seemed to indicate that they had penetrated his design, and that the magi had purposely avoided him. He was maddened at the thought. Craft had failed, but there was left the resort to force. He would make an example of this child- king. Those haughty Jews should see what they might expect in their attempts to place a monarch on the throne. DA 65.3"
"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men."
Both passages describe Herod's anger and frustration at being deceived by the wise men, leading to his decision to kill the children in Bethlehem. The EGW passage provides additional context and details about Herod's motivations.
"Soldiers were at once sent to Bethlehem, with orders to put to death all the children of two years and under. The quiet homes of the city of David witnessed those scenes of horror that, six hundred years before, had been opened to the prophet. “In Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.” DA 65.4"
"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men."
The EGW passage directly references the events described in Matthew 2:16, specifically the slaughter of the children in Bethlehem.
"Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not."
The EGW passage directly quotes Jeremiah 31:15 as a prophecy fulfilled by the events in Matthew 2:16, making the connection clear and intentional.
"This calamity the Jews had brought upon themselves. If they had been walking in faithfulness and humility before God, He would in a signal manner have made the wrath of the king harmless to them. But they had separated themselves from God by their sins, and had rejected the Holy Spirit, which was their only shield. They had not studied the Scriptures with a desire to conform to the will of God. They had searched for prophecies which could be interpreted to exalt themselves, and to show how God despised all other nations. It was their proud boast that the Messiah was to come as a king, conquering His enemies, and treading down the heathen in His wrath. Thus they had excited the hatred of their rulers. Through their misrepresentation of Christ's mission, Satan had purposed to compass the destruction of the Saviour; but instead of this, it returned upon their own heads. DA 65.5"
"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."
The EGW passage directly echoes the principle in Isaiah 59:2 that sin separates people from God.
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
Both passages discuss the act of searching the scriptures. The EGW passage criticizes the Jews for searching the scriptures with a self-serving motive, while John 5:39 is Jesus's statement about the purpose of scripture. There is a thematic connection in the act of searching the scriptures.