Tuesday, 18 November 2025
When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.” Matthew 14:15
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“And evening having come, they came to Him, His disciples, saying, ‘Desolate, it is, this place, and the hour, it passed already. You dismiss the crowds that, having departed into the villages, they should buy themselves food’” (CG).
In the previous verse, Jesus is said to have been moved with compassion for the multitudes and healed their sick. Next, after a day’s labor, it says, “And evening having come.”
To understand the timing and the same term being used again in verse 23, referring to the other gospels will help –
“When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him…” Mark 6:35
“When the day began to wear away…” Luke 9:12
John’s gospel does not refer to the time of day but the time of the year, saying, “Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near” John 6:4. This, however, adds its own issue. Passover is around March each year. The days are shorter, between 11 and 12 hours, and the setting of the sun is therefore earlier than later in the summer months, which extend to about 14 hours.
Matthew’s note indicates the amount of time already spent with the people, “the day was far spent.” Luke’s note indicates the afternoon hours leading to the setting sun, a time known in the law as ben ha’arbayim, “between the evenings.” It is the time of the evening sacrifice, which would be around 3 pm. There is the evening of the day when the sun begins to decline and the evening of the light when the day transitions into night.
Thus, this is at an hour when the day is in decline, and the people had already been there for quite some time. As the day is waning, there is an obvious problem. Therefore, “they came to Him, His disciples.”
The disciples see that there is a need, and they must think Jesus is unaware of it, as if He weren’t paying attention to the situation. As such, these disciples address Him, “saying, ‘Desolate, it is, this place.’”
The word desolate is in the emphatic position. They are essentially saying, “We are in the middle of nowhere. There is no gas station, 7-11, or even a watermelon stand. But all these people…!” And more, they say, “and the hour, it passed already.”
There are various possibilities for what this might mean –
The hour for the people to get home before dark.
The hour of the afternoon sacrifice, which is 3pm.
The normal time Jesus would dismiss crowds so they could get home.
The hour for women to start preparing food.
Etc.
Whatever the intent, it was something understood by Jesus, and it indicated that time was getting on while the people were still there in this remote location. Therefore, they say, “You dismiss the crowds.”
One can sense the urgency in their voice. They had crossed the sea. By the time they arrived, the people were already there to meet them, meaning they would have had to exert a lot of effort to do so. Jesus immediately had compassion on them and began healing the sick.
Eventually, Jesus and the disciples went aside privately (Luke 9:10 & John 6:3). However, the people remained in the area. Therefore, He needed to dismiss them with alacrity. And so they continue, saying, “that having departed into the villages, they should buy themselves food.”
The word bróma, food, is introduced. It speaks of that which is eaten as indicated by the verb form, bibróskó, found in John 6:13. The disciples have clearly set the stage for the events ahead by emphatically noting the desolateness of the location. Along with that is the timing of the day. Either the people will need to be immediately dismissed, or the time ahead will be one of great difficulty for them. There is, however, one other option the disciples are unaware of.
Life application: There are times in life where events lead us to the brink of seeming disaster. Suddenly, and from unexpected means, an abundance is realized. Was it chance, luck, the clicking of cosmic tumblers, or the divine hand of God tending to us after allowing us to go through a time of testing?
To what or who do we ascribe the credit for tending to our needs, even basic daily needs, but also those that are sudden and totally out of the normal? If we are wise, we will always credit that which we have or that which we receive to the gracious hand of God.
If we earn money, it is because He fashioned us to do so. He gave us the physical or mental ability to earn what we have. He gave us the time and place in which we live in order to prosper. And so, if that ends, we should accept it as His decision and live within the new confines He has dealt us with contentment and gratitude. In all things and in all ways, we should acknowledge God’s sovereignty and thank Him for that which we possess.
Glorious heavenly Father, thank You for the lives You have given us. You have wisely chosen our place and time of life, the abilities we possess, and the circumstances in which we find ourselves. As this is true, through good and through trials, we acknowledge Your wisdom and thank You for Your guiding hand in our lives. Amen.