Yet that doesn't mean we can ignore the ideal of forgiveness. Moral ideals are not to be ignored, but rather pressed at. The righteous through faith know they are sick and in need of a physician. They admit their sin and find in Christ the source of forgiveness. Such forgiveness is a natural response for the righteous through faith.
Forgiveness is a quality naturally found in a forgiven person.
It is not perfectly evident in a believer's life, but when we hear Jesus' call us to forgiveness, we move in that direction. The forgiven will forgive. So when Jesus' calls on his followers to display a forgiving nature, he is asking for a reasonable and natural response which has the support of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Whereas a person possessed of a judgmental spirit has likely drifted from the mercy of God in Christ and needs to place themselves again at the foot of the cross. There can be no forgiveness without repentance I am amazed at the number of believers who think they are required to practice a level of forgiveness greater than God.