"***** Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, “Follow Me.” GW 363.2"
"And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
EGW directly quotes "Follow Me" from Matthew 4:19 in the context of Christ's method of reaching people.
"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people."
Both passages describe Jesus' ministry as one of compassion, service, and invitation. Matthew 9:35 describes Jesus' actions of teaching, preaching, and healing, while EGW highlights His method of mingling with people, showing sympathy, and ministering to their needs before inviting them to follow Him. The connection is thematic, focusing on the practical application of Christ's ministry.
"There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice. Accompanied by the power of persuasion, the power of prayer, the power of the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit.— The Ministry of Healing, 143, 144 . GW 363.3"
"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
EGW directly quotes "weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice" from Romans 12:15.
"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
EGW's description of ministering to the poor, sick, and bereaved echoes the actions described in Matthew 25:35-40, where Jesus identifies these acts of service as being done to Him.