Matthew 14:15 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

When it was evening— When Jesus was come ashore, he taught the multitude with his usual goodness, and healed their sick (Matthew 14:14.), spending several days in these charitable offices. The words of the text lead us to this supposition; for the disciples came and told him, that it was time to dismiss the people:—And when it was evening,—that is to say, at three o'clock in the afternoon, for the Jews had two evenings, one of which commenced when the sun had declined and the greater part of the day was spent, and the other when the sun was set. The first evening, which began at three, is here meant, as appears from Matthew 14:23 where another evening is said to have come after the people were fed and dismissed; namely, the second evening, which began at sun-setting. See ch. Matthew 28:1.—At this time his disciples came to him, saying, &c. which implies, that the people had now no meat remaining; and therefore, as it was the custom in those countries to have two or three days' provisions with them when they travelled (see on Luke 10:34.), we may reasonably presume, that the multitude had been with Jesus several days before the disciples had any thought of dismissing them. The time is now passed, is interpreted by some, the time of dining. The Greek word Ωρα, denotes the season of doing any thing, and here it seems to signify the season of the people's attending on Christ, which was now passed, because theyhad continued with him till their provisions were consumed. See Macknight, and Beausobre and Lenfant.