“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also." (Matt. 23:25-26)
I imagined that I was not a pharisee (self-righteous hypocrite) until God broke me and cleared my blindness. In my case, I managed outward appearance believing success (although mis-defined) was dependent on effective management of circumstances. In that vicious cycle I was periodically judgmental, controlling, anxious, and arrogant.
But then, as I said, God broke me and cleared by blindness. Now by Grace I see the need to deal with inner corruption in the blood of Jesus, rather than focusing on the appearance to others. The more I am aware of what has been washed in the blood of Christ, the more I am able to live in the Spirit. In that glorious victory I am less and less judgmental, controlling, anxious, and arrogant. My best advice? Be busy washing the inside of your own dishes. In the course of doing so, God in Christ will correct and cleanse.
Cain was discouraged about his condition, not about his sin. The Prodigal son was humbled by his sin, not primarily by his condition, which God used as loving discipline. Cain said 'this is too hard for me' (Genesis 4:13), the Prodigal, 'Father I have sinned' (Luke 15:21). There is a Life and Death difference.
