A.T. Robertson Commentary Mark 7:36

"And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it." — Mark 7:36 (ASV)

So much the more a great deal they published it (αυτο μαλλον περισσοτερον εκηρυσσον). Imperfect tense, continued action. Double comparative as occurs elsewhere for emphasis as in Php 1:23 "much more better" (πολλω μαλλον κρεισσον). See Robertson's Grammar, pp. 663f. Human nature is a peculiar thing. The command not to tell provoked these people to tell just as the leper had done (Mr 1:44f.). The more Jesus commanded (οσον αυτοις διεστελλετο) them not to tell the more they told. It was a continuous performance. Prohibitions always affect some people that way, especially superficial and light-headed folks. But we have to have prohibitions or anarchy.