Sacrifice and Altars in OT and Lord's Supper

We need to say often and loudly that the Lord's Supper is not a meritorious or propitiatory sacrifice. But I'm inclined to think that there might be sacrifice-ish things about it. Anglicans are committed to saying with the Prayer Book that the Supper is a sacrifice of thanks and praise.

James B. Jordan argues that:

The word "sacrifice" (zabhahh) is used only for communion meals in the Hebrew Bible. Hence it does not mean "sacred slaughter" per se, but "slaughter to prepare a sacred meal."

Foootnote:

Unfortunately, in English the word "sacrifice" is also used for all the ritual "nearbringings" (qorbanim) of the Levitical system. Thus, we speak of the "sacrificial system" and of the "five basic sacrifices." In Hebrew, however, the verb "sacrifice" is only used of the animal sacrifice to provide a communion meal - in the Levitical system this is the Peace Sacrifice - and is never used in connection with any of the others. In Hebrew, one never "sacrifices" a "burnt offering" or a "meal offering" or a "sin offering," etc., though "sacrifice" can be used to cover the entire process if one of these is linked with a Peace Sacrifice (See Ex. 20:24 and 24:5).

This is why the early Church, and some traditional churches, call the Lord's Supper a sacrifice, because it is a communion meal with God. Similarly, since altar means "place of communion," the Church's table is often called an "altar." In terms of Hebrew usage, this is entirely appropriate.

Back to the main text:

Accordingly, the related word "altar", mizbeahh, means "place of communion," not "place of slaughter." Communion, not slaughter, is the idea common to all altars, including the incense altar and the symbolic altar of Joshua 22.

The Case for Covenant Communion, p52 - bold emphasis added