V. 20 says that "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”"> I'm gathered with Elsie!
Dealing With Sin in the Church (Gr> ekklēsia: church, congregation, assembly)
15“ If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Nothing like out of context verses to support any doctrine someone wants supported.
A lot of meaning is packed into this short command.
The following conclusions follow with logical necessity.
1) The "church" that Christ is referring to was extant and visible when He made this statement, because it's impossible for a completely invisible body of believers to settle any kind of dispute. If the Church at the time was completley invisible, his command would be nonsensical or void.
2) The Church that Christ is referring to teaches with His authority. How do we know? Because he could have said, "tell it to Me."
3) If this Church teaches with His authority, it must be His Church, the Church that He founded.
4) The teaching of the Church is unified. Christ did not mention a specific local church, but the church. And again, local churches promoting contradictory doctrines would render Christ's command meaningless.
5) According to Christ, "the gates of hell" would not prevail against His Church. This is an unqualified statement. He did not say that the visible aspect of His Church would pass away. So the visible aspect of the Church that Christ founded must exist to this day, and can be traced back to Apostolic times.