I believe Jesus was talking to the religious people, the "blind guides" of that day. Those that told others what to do (based only on the letter of the Law and their corruption of it) but didn't do it themselves, but STILL had a pious, judgemental attitude towards others. Those folks were about to lose their special place of inheritance when their religious system crashed down around their ears (destruction of Jeruselam, 70 A.D.), and we (Gentiles/pagans) were grafted into the Kingdom in their place (temporarily...all Israel shall be saved, the veil will be lifted). I believe there are many lessons there for us, humility, trust in God's grace through Jesus and not in our own works, loving and not judging our fellow man, etc. However, I believe he was specifically talking to them.
Jesus has come to us, Emmanuel (God WITH us), by His grace we are saved, and we can cry to Him "Abba" (Daddy) and we can now approach God with Jesus interceding on our behalf, with a relationship as loving Father and dependent child. Everyone will someday be able to approach God in this way, including the Jews that rejected Him, when they are finally allowed to see Him as the Messiah, the Christ that He now is to us. Brother Richard, God's punishments are corrective, and He will give us what we need...including the very faith and trust He desires us to have, because without His empowerment we can do nothing. For it's in Him we live and move and have our being, Acts 17:28.
Thank you for your pure, open, honest heart Richard. It's OK to feel like we don't "have it all together". When we are weak, it's then that His strength is even more apparent. And His grace is sufficient. God's blessing, James.