The Full Assurance of Hope Unto the End

‘We are persuaded better things of you.’ We are persuaded that you will not apostatize and not neglect your salvation to reap the judgment of God (2:2-3), as some of your brethren have done (6:4-8).

‘For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love.’ God’s promises are His debts to man. His righteousness and justice require Him to keep them, so you will be rewarded.

‘Ministered to the saints.’ This refers to contributions to the poor saints in Judea, as in 2Corinthians 8-9.

‘We desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.’ Paul comes back to his often repeated subject to the Hebrews here – that of warning them they must continue in full assurance of the hope of eternal life even to the end, and that by so doing they will finally inherit the blessings of the promises (6:11-12; cp. 2:3; 3:6, 12-14; 4:1-2, 6, 11; 6:1-8). Slothfulness will deprive them of both hope and faith.

‘Followers’ [Greek: mimetes] imitators. He gives Abraham as an outstanding example of faith (6:12-15), then gives a whole list of faith-worthies of the Old Testament whom we can imitate in faith (Hebrews 11:1 – 12:3).