"Luther was ordained a priest and was called from the cloister to a professorship in the University of Wittenberg. Here he applied himself to the study of the Scriptures in the original tongues. He began to lecture upon the Bible; and the book of Psalms, the Gospels, and the Epistles were opened to the understanding of crowds of delighted listeners. Staupitz, his friend and superior, urged him to ascend the pulpit and preach the word of God. Luther hesitated, feeling himself unworthy to speak to the people in Christ's stead. It was only after a long struggle that he yielded to the solicitations of his friends. Already he was mighty in the Scriptures, and the grace of God rested upon him. His eloquence captivated his hearers, the clearness and power with which he presented the truth convinced their understanding, and his fervor touched their hearts. GC 124.1"
"Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine."
Both passages discuss the importance of reading, exhortation, and doctrine. The EGW passage describes Luther's dedication to studying and teaching the Scriptures, which aligns with Paul's instruction to Timothy to give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
"Luther was still a true son of the papal church and had no thought that he would ever be anything else. In the providence of God he was led to visit Rome. He pursued his journey on foot, lodging at the monasteries on the way. At a convent in Italy he was filled with wonder at the wealth, magnificence, and luxury that he witnessed. Endowed with a princely revenue, the monks dwelt in splendid apartments, attired themselves in the richest and most costly robes, and feasted at a sumptuous table. With painful misgivings Luther contrasted this scene with the self-denial and hardship of his own life. His mind was becoming perplexed. GC 124.2"
"And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,"
Both passages contrast the luxurious lifestyle of religious leaders with the expected values of humility and self-denial. Matthew 23:6 condemns the Pharisees' love for prominent positions, while the EGW passage describes Luther's shock at the wealth and extravagance he witnessed in Italian monasteries. The shared theme of criticizing religious leaders for their opulent lifestyle justifies a 'confirm' verdict.
At last he beheld in the distance the seven-hilled city. With deep emotion he prostrated himself upon the earth, exclaiming: “Holy Rome, I salute thee!”— Ibid., b. 2, ch. 6. He entered the city, visited the churches, listened to the marvelous tales repeated by priests and monks, and performed all the ceremonies required. Everywhere he looked upon scenes that filled him with astonishment and horror. He saw that iniquity existed among all classes of the clergy. He heard indecent jokes from prelates, and was filled with horror at their awful profanity, even during mass. As he mingled with the monks and citizens he met dissipation, debauchery. Turn where he would, in the place of sanctity he found profanation. “No one can imagine,” he wrote, “what sins and infamous actions are committed in Rome; they must be seen and heard to be believed. Thus they are in the habit of saying, ‘If there is a hell, Rome is built over it: it is an abyss whence issues every kind of sin.’”— Ibid., b. 2, ch. 6. …
"Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."
Both passages highlight the hypocrisy and iniquity found within religious institutions. Matthew 23:28 accuses religious leaders of outwardly appearing righteous while being inwardly full of hypocrisy, while the EGW passage describes Luther's horror at the corruption and profanity he witnessed in Rome. The shared theme of exposing the hidden sins of religious leaders supports a 'confirm' verdict.