"Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them…"
<sarc>...except for months with a K in them pursuant to article 3, section 7, subsection 5, paragraphs 18-F through 19-U inclusive. </sarc>
Christ teaches humility, to beware of scandal, and to flee the occasions of sin: to denounce to the church incorrigible sinners, and to look upon such as refuse to hear the church as heathens. He promises to his disciples the power of binding and loosing: and that he will be in the midst of their assemblies. No forgiveness for them that will not forgive.
1 At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who thinkest thou is the greater in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them, 3 And said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me.
6 But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh. 8 And if thy hand, or thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 10 See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
6 "Shall scandalize"... That is, shall put a stumblingblock in their way, and cause them to fall into sin.
7 "It must needs be"... Viz., considering the wickedness and corruption of the world.
8 "Scandalize thee"... That is, cause thee to offend.
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12 What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go to seek that which is gone astray? 13 And if it so be that he find it: Amen I say to you, he rejoiceth more for that, than for the ninety-nine that went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 15 But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother.
16 And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand. 17 And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican. 18 Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth, concerning any thing whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
20 "There am I in the midst of them"... This is understood of such assemblies only as are gathered in the name and authority of Christ; and in unity of the church of Christ. St. Cyprian, De Unitate Ecclesiae.
*And now you know...the REST of the story
find it...interesting...that he never once refers to Scripture but instead enumerates organizational 'laws'.>>
That's because he is by definition not a heretic but a Successor to the Apostles with the authority given unto him and all his apostolic predecessors and successors by Jesus Christ personally while he was on earth to make such binding decrees upon all men.
Next question?
He only needs one Scripture reference: "who hears you, hears Me". But the part about a dog returning to its vomit from 2 Peter might also work.
From the letter:
"It is the repudiation of the authority which Christ conferred upon St. Peter and the other Apostles in communion with him, and their successors."
"Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them…"
Considering the maxim that even Satan can quote Scripture for his own end, I'll give you this to ponder in unison with your above verse.
Luke 10:16
"He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."