"He is a loathsome spectacle. The disease has made frightful inroads, and his decaying body is horrible to look upon. At sight of him the people fall back. In their terror they crowd upon one another to escape from contact with him. Some try to prevent him from approaching Jesus, but in vain. He neither sees nor hears them. Their expressions of loathing are lost upon him. He sees only the Son of God, he hears only the voice that speaks life to the dying. MH 69.1"
"And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean."
While Leviticus 13:45 outlines the ritualistic aspects of a leper's declaration of uncleanness, the EGW passage vividly describes the social and emotional impact of leprosy, including the fear and loathing it inspires in others. Both passages relate to the experience of a leper, but the EGW passage elaborates on the human element.
"Pressing to Jesus, he casts himself at His feet with the cry, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” MH 69.2 Jesus replies, “I will; be thou clean,” and lays His hand upon him. Matthew 8:2, 3 . MH 69.3"
"And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."
The EGW passage directly quotes Matthew 8:2 and references Matthew 8:3, making it a clear and explicit allusion.
"Immediately a change passes over the leper. His blood becomes healthy, the nerves sensitive, the muscles firm. The unnaturally white, scaly surface peculiar to leprosy disappears; and his flesh becomes as the flesh of a little child. MH 69.4"
"Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean."
The EGW passage directly describes the transformation of the leper's flesh to that of a child, mirroring the language and event in 2 Kings 5:14. This is more than a thematic parallel; it's a clear allusion.
"Should the priests learn the facts concerning the healing of the leper, their hatred of Christ might lead them to render a dishonest sentence. Jesus desired that an impartial decision be secured. He therefore bids the man tell no one of the cure, but without delay present himself at the temple with an offering before any rumors concerning the miracle should be spread abroad. Before the priests could accept such an offering, they were required to examine the offerer and certify his complete recovery. MH 69.5"
"And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."
EGW's passage directly reflects the instruction Jesus gave to the healed leper in Matthew 8:4, emphasizing the need for the leper to show himself to the priest and offer the prescribed gift. It's a direct application of the biblical narrative.
"This examination was made. The priests who had condemned the leper to banishment testified to his cure. The healed man was restored to his home and society. He felt that the boon of health was very precious. He rejoiced in the vigor of manhood and in his restoration to his family. Notwithstanding the caution of Jesus, he could no longer conceal the fact of his cure, and joyfully he went about proclaiming the power of the One who had made him whole. MH 69.6"
"But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter."
Both passages describe the healed leper's inability to keep the healing a secret and his subsequent proclamation of the miracle, despite being told not to. This resulted in increased attention and challenges for Jesus. The thematic parallel is strong.