Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?  Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

First: let us note that this doesn’t say the brother must ask for forgiveness,  just that we must forgive.  How can we, who have had all our sins forgiven, with hold forgiveness from a brother or sister in Christ?

Remember, forgiveness isn’t letting the person “off the hook”.  It is treating then with grace and mercy as we have been so treated.