The problem with Israel (and hence the Pharisees), were NOT because they tried to follow the Law of God, they were judged because they FORSAKEN the Law of God by going into idolatry and lawlessness.
During the exile, Ezra revived the book of the Law and institutionalized the Scribes (since there was no more temple for them to worship in). That was when the Sanhedrin was formed, for a good reason so that God's word was preserved.
However, after the return to the 2nd temple, another problem came. The Scribes begun to inculcate their own interpretation of the Law called the Mishnah (Oral Law). This was later recorded in written form called the Tulmud.
Corban is one of the evil man made regulation from the Mishnah that the Pharisees used to bypass the 6th commandment of God. And Jesus rebuked them, not because they upheld the law, but they forsook it again by placing Corban above God's Law. Read Mark 7:5-13.
Hence the reference to Filthy Rags (Isa 64:6) commonly referred as "our efforts to live righteously" is inaccurate. That does not refer to us trying to earn Salvation (that is a separate issue). God is saying, Israel has imposed their own self righteousness against his Holy commandments.
The context of "Trying to earn Salvation" only exists in the NT, when Jews tried to add additional criteria to Salvation by Grace in Jesus Christ.
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