"The Jews had been wearily toiling to reach perfection by their own efforts, and they had failed. Christ had already told them that their righteousness could never enter the kingdom of heaven. Now He points out to them the character of the righteousness that all who enter heaven will possess. Throughout the Sermon on the Mount He describes its fruits, and now in one sentence He points out its source and its nature: Be perfect as God is perfect. The law is but a transcript of the character of God. Behold in your heavenly Father a perfect manifestation of the principles which are the foundation of His government. MB 77.1"
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
The EGW passage directly quotes and explains Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect as God is perfect." This is a clear and direct allusion.
"God is love. Like rays of light from the sun, love and light and joy flow out from Him to all His creatures. It is His nature to give. His very life is the outflow of unselfish love. MB 77.2"
"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
The EGW passage directly reflects the principle stated in 1 John 4:8, "God is love." It expands on this principle by describing God's nature as giving and the outflow of unselfish love.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
Both passages discuss God as the source of good gifts and light. While not a direct quote, the imagery of light flowing from God and the concept of God giving good gifts connects them thematically.
"Jesus said, Be perfect as your Father is perfect. If you are the children of God you are partakers of His nature, and you cannot but be like Him. Every child lives by the life of his father. If you are God's children, begotten by His Spirit, you live by the life of God. In Christ dwells “all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” ( Colossians 2:9 ); and the life of Jesus is made manifest “in our mortal flesh” ( 2 Corinthians 4:11 ). That life in you will produce the same character and manifest the same works as it did in Him. Thus you will be in harmony with every precept of His law; for “the law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul.” Psalm 19:7 , margin. Through love “the righteousness of the law” will be “fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:4 . MB 77.5"
"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
Ellen White directly references Colossians 2:9 in this passage.
"For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh."
Ellen White directly references 2 Corinthians 4:11 in this passage.
"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple."
Ellen White directly references Psalms 19:7 in this passage.
"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Ellen White directly references Romans 8:4 in this passage.