I figured it would come to this argument. The word from which we get “church” means “called out ones”. The nation of Israel was God’s “called out ones” of that covenant. The teaching of those in religious power represented Israel. Not exactly the same, but similar enough for the comparison to be valid.
This is such a phony argument on its face! If the “church” leaders of Israel were faithful to the Covenant of God, there would have been no need for Deuteronomy and its strictures... nor the need to be released from it.