"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
The EGW passage speaks of being discouraged and repelled from Christ, while Matthew 11:28 is an invitation from Christ to those who are weary and burdened. The thematic parallel lies in the contrast: discouragement leads away from Christ, while Christ offers rest and relief from burdens.
"There are many who have an erroneous idea of the life and character of Christ. They think that He was devoid of warmth and sunniness, that He was stern, severe, and joyless. In many cases the whole religious experience is colored by these gloomy views. SC 120.2"
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
The EGW passage directly addresses a mischaracterization of Christ, while Matthew 11:29 presents Christ's own description of Himself as meek and lowly. The EGW passage amplifies the idea that Christ is not stern and joyless, aligning with the meek and lowly description.
"It is often said that Jesus wept, but that He was never known to smile. Our Saviour was indeed a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief, for He opened His heart to all the woes of men. But though His life was self-denying and shadowed with pain and care, His spirit was not crushed. His countenance did not wear an expression of grief and repining, but ever one of peaceful serenity. His heart was a wellspring of life, and wherever He went He carried rest and peace, joy and gladness. SC 120.3"
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."
EGW directly references Jesus as 'a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief,' which is a clear and direct allusion to Isaiah 53:3.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Both passages speak of Jesus offering rest and relief from burdens. EGW describes Jesus as carrying rest and peace, while Matthew 11:28 is a direct invitation to find rest in Him. The connection is strong and thematic.
"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
The phrase 'wellspring of life' in EGW's writing echoes the concept of 'water springing up into everlasting life' in John 4:14. The connection is thematic, focusing on the life-giving nature of Jesus.
"Our Saviour was deeply serious and intensely in earnest, but never gloomy or morose. The life of those who imitate Him will be full of earnest purpose; they will have a deep sense of personal responsibility. Levity will be repressed; there will be no boisterous merriment, no rude jesting; but the religion of Jesus gives peace like a river. It does not quench the light of joy; it does not restrain cheerfulness nor cloud the sunny, smiling face. Christ came not to be ministered unto but to minister; and when His love reigns in the heart, we shall follow His example. SC 120.4"
"Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
EGW directly references and applies the principle stated in Matthew 20:28, that Christ came to minister rather than be ministered to. This is a clear and direct connection.
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Both passages connect Jesus with peace. EGW states that 'the religion of Jesus gives peace like a river,' while John 14:27 is Jesus' promise of peace. The connection is strong and thematic.
"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."
While not a direct quote, EGW's description of the religion of Jesus not quenching the light of joy and not restraining cheerfulness aligns with the general theme of rejoicing in the Lord found in Philippians 4:4. The connection is thematic, though not as strong as some others.