Hebrews 6:12

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Be not, [ geneesthe (G1096)] - 'become not.' In Hebrews 5:11, 'ye have become dull [ noothroi (G3576), "slothful" of hearing];' here he warns them not to become "slothful" absolutely-namely, also in mind and deed. He will not become slothful who keeps always the end in view: hope is the means.

Followers, [ mimeetai (G3402)] - 'imitators:' so in Ephesians 5:1, Greek; 1 Corinthians 11:1.

Patience, [ makrothumia (G3115)] - 'long-suffering endurance.' There is the long-suffering of love (1 Corinthians 13:4), and that of faith (Hebrews 6:15).

Them who ... inherit the promises - not that they have actually the perfect inheritance, which Hebrews 11:13; Hebrews 11:39 explicitly denies, though the dead in Christ have, in the disembodied soul, a foretaste of it, but 'them (enumerated in Hebrews 11:1) who in every age have been, are, or shall be, inheritors of the promises:' of whom Abraham is an illustrious example (Hebrews 6:13). The promise in the Gospel is singular: in respect to the patriarchs, plural (Galatians 3:16). For the "promise" is one perfect whole in Christ now come: but under the Old Testament many promises were given in successive steps and times. The promise of salvation in Christ is already realized; the promises of the restoration of all things and final glory are yet future.