On the depravity of the chief priests and elders:
Matthew 27: 3-6
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
Judas repents himself for having betrayed an innocent man, but the chief priests and elders basically shrug it off and say that's his problem, not theirs. But then they worry over breaking the law concerning the silver pieces being added to the treasury.
Verses 41-43
41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
They have the nerve to mock him on the cross and foolishly say they'll believe if he saves himself, after seeing him perform countless miracles and never once break the law.
Verses 62-64
62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Then after all their scheming, they are worried that the disciples will fake a resurrection by hiding the body, so they plan to have the tomb guarded.
Reading over this again, I just realized the best part of this is that of the records of Jesus returning to visit in the flesh after his death and resurrection, not one mentions him returning to the chief priests and elders to say the new testament version of "how do you like me now?"
Two lessons I see from that: 1) Christ died for everyone including those men. 2) The condition of a person's soul and their potential salvation - whether it happens now or 10 years from now - will always be more important than having the last laugh or getting revenge (to sooth your pride). That's how grace works.