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;

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

7:31-37 Here is a cure of one that was deaf and dumb. Those who brought this poor man to Christ, besought him to observe the case, and put forth his power. Our Lord used more outward actions in the doing of this cure than usual. These were only signs of Christ's power to cure the man, to encourage his faith, and theirs that brought him. Though we find great variety in the cases and manner of relief of those who applied to Christ, yet all obtained the relief they sought. Thus it still is in the great concerns of our souls.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Tell no man - Do not noise it abroad. He was not ambitious of being known, and he knew that if much was said of his cures, it would excite the jealousy of the Pharisees and endanger his life.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

36. And he charged them that they should tell no man—Into this very region He had sent the man out of whom had been cast the legion of devils, to proclaim "what the Lord had done for him" (Mr 5:19). Now He will have them "tell no man." But in the former case there was no danger of obstructing His ministry by "blazing the matter" (Mr 1:45), as He Himself had left the region; whereas now He was sojourning in it.

but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it—They could not be restrained; nay, the prohibition seemed only to whet their determination to publish His fame.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Mark 7:31"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he charged them,.... The man that had his hearing and speech restored to him, and those that brought him, and as many as were witnesses of the miracle:

that they should tell no man; of the cure that was wrought, being not desirous of the applause of men; and knowing it would bring upon him the envy of the Scribes and Pharisees; and be a means of putting the common people upon setting him up as a temporal king, such as they expected the Messiah would be:

but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; or "spake of him", as the Ethiopic version reads it; for they looked upon his charge merely to proceed from modesty, and that made them the more forward to speak of his greatness and in his praise, to publish his mighty works, and spread the fame of his miracles far and near. So, such who have received the grace of God, are become acquainted with Christ, and have a real experience of divine things, cannot but speak of them; they are like new wine which hath no vent; and are ready to burst like new bottles; to forbear speaking is a pain, and weariness to them; nay, they think, should they hold their peace, the stones in the walls would cry out. Wherefore, partly for the glory of God, the magnifying of the riches of his grace, and the honour of Christ, and the blessed Spirit; and partly to show their own sense of things, the gratitude of their minds, and the thankfulness of their hearts, as well as for the use, comfort, edification, and instruction of others, they must speak, and cannot be silent, whatever restraints are laid upon them.

Geneva Study Bible

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;

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 7:36. μᾶλλον περισσότερον, a double comparative, forcibly rendered in A.V[67], “So much the more, a great deal”. Cf. 2 Corinthians 7:13. This use of μᾶλλον to strengthen comparatives is found in classics, instances in Raphel, Annon., ad loc., and Hermann’s Viger, p. 719.

[67] Authorised Version.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

36. he charged them] i. e. the friends of the afflicted man, who had accompanied or followed him into the presence of his Healer.

so much the more] Observe the accumulation of comparatives, “The more He charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it, and were beyond measure astonished.” The original word for “beyond measure” occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.

Bengel's Gnomen

Mark 7:36. Αὐτοῖς, them) Those who had borne the dumb man. It was rather the part of the spectators to publish it abroad. And yet the former [the bearers] also published the fame of it, Mark 7:37. Silence was wont especially to be enjoined on those who had been cured of the diseases.—μᾶλλον περισσότερον, the more exceeding abundantly) The comparative contained in the μᾶλλον, more, stands in antithesis to His prohibition: that in the περισσότερον, exceeding abundantly, stands in antithesis to the publishing of it, which they would have made, had there been no prohibition; comp. Php 1:23, note.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 36, 37. - He charged them (διεστέλλετο). The word is a strong one: "he gave them clear and positive orders." The injunction seems to have been given, both to the deaf and dumb man, and to those who brought him. And it was given partly, no doubt, for his own sake, and for reasons connected with his gradual manifestation of himself to the world, and partly for the instruction of his disciples, and to show that he did not desire by his miracles to win the vain applause of men. St. Augustine says that "our Lord desired, by putting this restraint upon them, to teach how much more fervently they ought to preach him, whom he commissions to preach, when they who were forbidden could not be silent." He hath done all things well. He did nothing that the Pharisees, captious and envious as they were, could reasonably find fault with. St. Matthew (Matthew 15:30, 31) intimates that at this time our Lord exhibited a vast number of miracles, a bright galaxy of wonders, amongst which this shone out conspicuously, as a very prominent and instructive one. But, indeed, "he went about doing good." His whole life on earth was one connected, continued manifestation of loving kindness.



Mark 7:36

Vincent's Word Studies

Charged (διεστείλατο)

The verb means, first, to separate; then to define or distinguish; and as that which is separated and distinguished is emphasized, to command or straitly charge.