Sedulius Scotus, Collectaneum in Mattheum (5:34)

Sedulius Scotus, Collectaneum in Mattheum (5:34)

Written c. 850 CE, by Irish monk, Sedulius Scotus. The commentary on the passage (Matt. 5:33-37) is largely a compilation and reworking of Patristic material. Sedulius opens (v. 33) with Jerome followed by Augustine. He uses Augustine for the main body of the passage (v. 34-36), and ends (v. 37) with Hilary followed by Augustine. In the conclusion to v. 34a ("Do not swear at all") Sedulius offers a small independent contribution within a re-purposed Augustinian argument on the use of a necessary oath, wherein he argues that "omnino" should be understood as "assidue" (continually; frequently; incessantly). This likely an allusion to Sir. 23:7-11 (Vulg).

Source: Bengt Löfstedt, ed. 1989. Sedulius Scottus: Kommentar Zum Evangelium Nach Matthäus Vol. 1 (1,1 - 11,1), p. 171. Verlag Herder. [Translation mine].

Therefore the Lord does not prohibit swearing if necessity demands it, as with the Apostle; he forbids to swear "omnino," that is continually ('assidue'), so that we do not fall into perjury by custom of swearing.  Swearing then, should not be understood as a good, but as something necessary. Refrain from it as much as you can, using only when needed, when men are slow to trust without an oath.

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Non ergo nos Dominus vetat iurare, si necessitas poposcerit, ut Apostolus iurauit, sed "omnino," hoc est 'assidue,' iurare prohibet, ne per consuetudinem iurandi in periurium incidamus. Quapropter qui intelligit non in bonus, sed in necessariis iurationem habendam, refrenet se quantum potest, ut non ea utatur nisi in necessitate, cum uiderit pigros esse homines ed credendum, nisi iuratione firmentur.