diff --git a/jpath/match.go b/jpath/match.go
index ffde749..345bbf4 100644
--- a/jpath/match.go
+++ b/jpath/match.go
@@ -2,61 +2,9 @@
 
 import (
 	. "github.com/pelletier/go-toml"
+  "fmt"
 )
 
-// result set for storage of results
-type pathResult struct {
-  Values []interface{}
-}
-
-func newPathResult() *pathResult {
-  return &pathResult {
-    Values: []interface{}{},
-  }
-}
-
-func (r *pathResult) Append(value interface{}) {
-  r.Values = append(r.Values, value)
-}
-
-// generic path functor interface
-type PathFn interface{
-  SetNext(next PathFn)
-  Call(context interface{}, results *pathResult)
-}
-
-// contains a functor chain
-type QueryPath struct {
-  root PathFn
-  tail PathFn
-}
-
-func newQueryPath() *QueryPath {
-  return &QueryPath {
-    root: nil,
-    tail: nil,
-  }
-}
-
-func (path *QueryPath) Append(next PathFn) {
-  if path.root == nil {
-    path.root = next
-  } else {
-    path.tail.SetNext(next)
-  }
-  path.tail = next
-  next.SetNext(newTerminatingFn()) // init the next functor
-}
-
-func (path *QueryPath) Call(context interface{}) []interface{} {
-  results := newPathResult()
-  if path.root == nil {
-    results.Append(context)  // identity query for no predicates
-  } else {
-    path.root.Call(context, results)
-  }
-  return results.Values
-}
 
 // base match
 type matchBase struct {
@@ -80,8 +28,8 @@
   // do nothing
 }
 
-func (f *terminatingFn) Call(context interface{}, results *pathResult) {
-  results.Append(context)
+func (f *terminatingFn) Call(node interface{}, ctx *queryContext) {
+  ctx.appendResult(node)
 }
 
 // shim to ease functor writing
@@ -99,11 +47,11 @@
   return &matchKeyFn{ Name: name }
 }
 
-func (f *matchKeyFn) Call(context interface{}, results *pathResult) {
-  if tree, ok := context.(*TomlTree); ok {
+func (f *matchKeyFn) Call(node interface{}, ctx *queryContext) {
+  if tree, ok := node.(*TomlTree); ok {
     item := treeValue(tree, f.Name)
     if item != nil {
-      f.next.Call(item, results)
+      f.next.Call(item, ctx)
     }
   }
 }
@@ -118,10 +66,10 @@
   return &matchIndexFn{ Idx: idx }
 }
 
-func (f *matchIndexFn) Call(context interface{}, results *pathResult) {
-  if arr, ok := context.([]interface{}); ok {
+func (f *matchIndexFn) Call(node interface{}, ctx *queryContext) {
+  if arr, ok := node.([]interface{}); ok {
     if f.Idx < len(arr) && f.Idx >= 0 {
-      f.next.Call(arr[f.Idx], results)
+      f.next.Call(arr[f.Idx], ctx)
     }
   }
 }
@@ -136,8 +84,8 @@
   return &matchSliceFn{ Start: start, End: end, Step: step }
 }
 
-func (f *matchSliceFn) Call(context interface{}, results *pathResult) {
-  if arr, ok := context.([]interface{}); ok {
+func (f *matchSliceFn) Call(node interface{}, ctx *queryContext) {
+  if arr, ok := node.([]interface{}); ok {
     // adjust indexes for negative values, reverse ordering
     realStart, realEnd := f.Start, f.End
     if realStart < 0 {
@@ -151,7 +99,7 @@
     }
     // loop and gather
     for idx := realStart; idx < realEnd; idx += f.Step {
-      f.next.Call(arr[idx], results)
+      f.next.Call(arr[idx], ctx)
     }
   }
 }
@@ -159,18 +107,17 @@
 // match anything
 type matchAnyFn struct {
   matchBase
-  // empty
 }
 
 func newMatchAnyFn() *matchAnyFn {
   return &matchAnyFn{}
 }
 
-func (f *matchAnyFn) Call(context interface{}, results *pathResult) {
-  if tree, ok := context.(*TomlTree); ok {
+func (f *matchAnyFn) Call(node interface{}, ctx *queryContext) {
+  if tree, ok := node.(*TomlTree); ok {
     for _, key := range tree.Keys() {
       item := treeValue(tree, key)
-      f.next.Call(item, results)
+      f.next.Call(item, ctx)
     }
   }
 }
@@ -186,9 +133,9 @@
   }
 }
 
-func (f *matchUnionFn) Call(context interface{}, results *pathResult) {
+func (f *matchUnionFn) Call(node interface{}, ctx *queryContext) {
   for _, fn := range f.Union {
-    fn.Call(context, results)
+    fn.Call(node, ctx)
   }
 }
 
@@ -201,13 +148,13 @@
   return &matchRecursiveFn{}
 }
 
-func (f *matchRecursiveFn) Call(context interface{}, results *pathResult) {
-  if tree, ok := context.(*TomlTree); ok {
+func (f *matchRecursiveFn) Call(node interface{}, ctx *queryContext) {
+  if tree, ok := node.(*TomlTree); ok {
     var visit func(tree *TomlTree)
     visit = func(tree *TomlTree) {
       for _, key := range tree.Keys() {
         item := treeValue(tree, key)
-        f.next.Call(item, results)
+        f.next.Call(item, ctx)
         switch node := item.(type) {
         case *TomlTree:
           visit(node)
@@ -221,3 +168,67 @@
     visit(tree)
   }
 }
+
+// match based on an externally provided functional filter
+type matchFilterFn struct {
+  matchBase
+  Pos Position
+  Name string
+}
+
+func newMatchFilterFn(name string, pos Position) *matchFilterFn {
+  return &matchFilterFn{ Name: name, Pos: pos }
+}
+
+func (f *matchFilterFn) Call(node interface{}, ctx *queryContext) {
+  fn, ok := (*ctx.filters)[f.Name]
+  if !ok {
+    panic(fmt.Sprintf("%s: query context does not have filter '%s'",
+      f.Pos, f.Name))
+  }
+  switch castNode := node.(type) {
+  case *TomlTree:
+    for _, k := range castNode.Keys() {
+      v := castNode.GetPath([]string{k})
+      if fn(v) {
+        f.next.Call(v, ctx)
+      }
+    }
+  case []interface{}:
+    for _, v := range castNode {
+      if fn(v) {
+        f.next.Call(v, ctx)
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+// match based using result of an externally provided functional filter
+type matchScriptFn struct {
+  matchBase
+  Pos Position
+  Name string
+}
+
+func newMatchScriptFn(name string, pos Position) *matchScriptFn {
+  return &matchScriptFn{ Name: name, Pos: pos }
+}
+
+func (f *matchScriptFn) Call(node interface{}, ctx *queryContext) {
+  fn, ok := (*ctx.scripts)[f.Name]
+  if !ok {
+    panic(fmt.Sprintf("%s: query context does not have script '%s'",
+      f.Pos, f.Name))
+  }
+  switch result := fn(node).(type) {
+  case string:
+    nextMatch := newMatchKeyFn(result)
+    nextMatch.SetNext(f.next)
+    nextMatch.Call(node, ctx)
+  case int:
+    nextMatch := newMatchIndexFn(result)
+    nextMatch.SetNext(f.next)
+    nextMatch.Call(node, ctx)
+  //TODO: support other return types?
+  }
+}
diff --git a/jpath/match_test.go b/jpath/match_test.go
index 514962b..9509ae9 100644
--- a/jpath/match_test.go
+++ b/jpath/match_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package jpath
 
 import (
+	. "github.com/pelletier/go-toml"
   "fmt"
   "math"
 	"testing"
@@ -8,7 +9,7 @@
 
 // dump path tree to a string
 func pathString(root PathFn) string {
-  result := fmt.Sprintf("%T:")
+  result := fmt.Sprintf("%T:", root)
   switch fn := root.(type) {
   case *terminatingFn:
     result += "{}"
@@ -28,21 +29,27 @@
   case *matchUnionFn:
     result += "{["
     for _, v := range fn.Union {
-      result += pathString(v)
+      result += pathString(v) + ", "
     }
     result += "]}"
   case *matchRecursiveFn:
     result += "{}"
     result += pathString(fn.next)
+  case *matchFilterFn:
+    result += fmt.Sprintf("{%s}", fn.Name)
+    result += pathString(fn.next)
+  case *matchScriptFn:
+    result += fmt.Sprintf("{%s}", fn.Name)
+    result += pathString(fn.next)
   }
   return result
 }
 
-func assertPathMatch(t *testing.T, path, ref *QueryPath) bool {
+func assertPathMatch(t *testing.T, path, ref *Query) bool {
   pathStr := pathString(path.root)
   refStr := pathString(ref.root)
   if pathStr != refStr {
-    t.Errorf("paths do not match: %v vs %v")
+    t.Errorf("paths do not match")
     t.Log("test:", pathStr)
     t.Log("ref: ", refStr)
     return false
@@ -50,18 +57,18 @@
   return true
 }
 
-func assertPath(t *testing.T, query string, ref *QueryPath) {
+func assertPath(t *testing.T, query string, ref *Query) {
 	_, flow := lex(query)
 	path := parse(flow)
   assertPathMatch(t, path, ref)
 }
 
-func buildPath(parts... PathFn) *QueryPath {
-  path := newQueryPath()
+func buildPath(parts... PathFn) *Query {
+  query := newQuery()
   for _, v := range parts {
-    path.Append(v)
+    query.appendPath(v)
   }
-  return path
+  return query
 }
 
 func TestPathRoot(t *testing.T) {
@@ -187,3 +194,25 @@
       newMatchRecursiveFn(),
     ))
 }
+
+func TestPathFilterExpr(t *testing.T) {
+	assertPath(t,
+		"$[?('foo'),?(bar)]",
+		buildPath(
+      &matchUnionFn{ []PathFn {
+        newMatchFilterFn("foo", Position{}),
+        newMatchFilterFn("bar", Position{}),
+      }},
+    ))
+}
+
+func TestPathScriptExpr(t *testing.T) {
+	assertPath(t,
+		"$[('foo'),(bar)]",
+		buildPath(
+      &matchUnionFn{ []PathFn {
+        newMatchScriptFn("foo", Position{}),
+        newMatchScriptFn("bar", Position{}),
+      }},
+    ))
+}
diff --git a/jpath/parser.go b/jpath/parser.go
index 7b842a4..f59ba0c 100644
--- a/jpath/parser.go
+++ b/jpath/parser.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 type parser struct {
 	flow         chan token
 	tokensBuffer []token
-	path         *QueryPath
+	path         *Query
   union        []PathFn
 }
 
@@ -102,12 +102,12 @@
 	tok := p.getToken()
 	switch tok.typ {
 	case tokenDotDot:
-    p.path.Append(&matchRecursiveFn{})
+    p.path.appendPath(&matchRecursiveFn{})
     // nested parse for '..'
     tok := p.getToken()
     switch tok.typ {
     case tokenKey:
-      p.path.Append(newMatchKeyFn(tok.val))
+      p.path.appendPath(newMatchKeyFn(tok.val))
       return parseMatchExpr
     case tokenLBracket:
       return parseBracketExpr
@@ -121,10 +121,10 @@
     tok := p.getToken()
     switch tok.typ {
     case tokenKey:
-      p.path.Append(newMatchKeyFn(tok.val))
+      p.path.appendPath(newMatchKeyFn(tok.val))
       return parseMatchExpr
     case tokenStar:
-      p.path.Append(&matchAnyFn{})
+      p.path.appendPath(&matchAnyFn{})
       return parseMatchExpr
     }
 
@@ -149,6 +149,8 @@
 }
 
 func parseUnionExpr(p *parser) parserStateFn {
+  var tok *token
+
   // this state can be traversed after some sub-expressions
   // so be careful when setting up state in the parser
 	if p.union == nil {
@@ -157,8 +159,21 @@
 
 loop: // labeled loop for easy breaking
   for {
+    if len(p.union) > 0 {
+      // parse delimiter or terminator
+      tok = p.getToken()
+      switch tok.typ {
+      case tokenComma:
+        // do nothing
+      case tokenRBracket:
+        break loop
+      default:
+        p.raiseError(tok, "expected ',' or ']', not '%s'", tok.val)
+      }
+    }
+
 		// parse sub expression
-		tok := p.getToken()
+		tok = p.getToken()
 		switch tok.typ {
 		case tokenInteger:
 			p.union = append(p.union, newMatchIndexFn(tok.Int()))
@@ -171,25 +186,15 @@
 		case tokenLParen:
 			return parseScriptExpr
 		default:
-			p.raiseError(tok, "expected union sub expression, not '%s'", tok.val)
-		}
-		// parse delimiter or terminator
-		tok = p.getToken()
-		switch tok.typ {
-		case tokenComma:
-			continue
-		case tokenRBracket:
-			break loop
-		default:
-			p.raiseError(tok, "expected ',' or ']'")
+			p.raiseError(tok, "expected union sub expression, not '%s', %d", tok.val, len(p.union))
 		}
 	}
 
   // if there is only one sub-expression, use that instead
   if len(p.union) == 1 {
-    p.path.Append(p.union[0])
+    p.path.appendPath(p.union[0])
   }else {
-    p.path.Append(&matchUnionFn{p.union})
+    p.path.appendPath(&matchUnionFn{p.union})
   }
 
   p.union = nil // clear out state
@@ -217,7 +222,7 @@
 		tok = p.getToken()
 	}
   if tok.typ == tokenRBracket {
-	  p.path.Append(newMatchSliceFn(start, end, step))
+	  p.path.appendPath(newMatchSliceFn(start, end, step))
     return parseMatchExpr
   }
   if tok.typ != tokenColon {
@@ -237,25 +242,47 @@
 		p.raiseError(tok, "expected ']'")
 	}
 
-	p.path.Append(newMatchSliceFn(start, end, step))
+	p.path.appendPath(newMatchSliceFn(start, end, step))
 	return parseMatchExpr
 }
 
 func parseFilterExpr(p *parser) parserStateFn {
-	p.raiseError(p.peek(), "filter expressions are unsupported")
-	return nil
+  tok := p.getToken()
+  if tok.typ != tokenLParen {
+    p.raiseError(tok, "expected left-parenthesis for filter expression")
+  }
+  tok = p.getToken()
+  if tok.typ != tokenKey && tok.typ != tokenString {
+    p.raiseError(tok, "expected key or string for filter funciton name")
+  }
+  name := tok.val
+  tok = p.getToken()
+  if tok.typ != tokenRParen {
+    p.raiseError(tok, "expected right-parenthesis for filter expression")
+  }
+	p.union = append(p.union, newMatchFilterFn(name, tok.Position))
+	return parseUnionExpr
 }
 
 func parseScriptExpr(p *parser) parserStateFn {
-	p.raiseError(p.peek(), "script expressions are unsupported")
-	return nil
+  tok := p.getToken()
+  if tok.typ != tokenKey && tok.typ != tokenString {
+    p.raiseError(tok, "expected key or string for script funciton name")
+  }
+  name := tok.val
+  tok = p.getToken()
+  if tok.typ != tokenRParen {
+    p.raiseError(tok, "expected right-parenthesis for script expression")
+  }
+	p.union = append(p.union, newMatchScriptFn(name, tok.Position))
+	return parseUnionExpr
 }
 
-func parse(flow chan token) *QueryPath {
+func parse(flow chan token) *Query {
 	parser := &parser{
 		flow:         flow,
 		tokensBuffer: []token{},
-		path:         newQueryPath(),
+		path:         newQuery(),
 	}
 	parser.run()
 	return parser.path
diff --git a/jpath/parser_test.go b/jpath/parser_test.go
index 3103970..6d3c941 100644
--- a/jpath/parser_test.go
+++ b/jpath/parser_test.go
@@ -12,14 +12,8 @@
 		t.Errorf("Non-nil toml parse error: %v", err)
 		return
 	}
-	_, flow := lex(query)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("Non-nil query lex error: %v", err)
-		return
-	}
-	path := parse(flow)
-	result := path.Call(tree)
-	assertValue(t, result, ref, "((" + query + ")) -> ")
+  results := Compile(query).Execute(tree)
+	assertValue(t, results, ref, "((" + query + ")) -> ")
 }
 
 func assertValue(t *testing.T, result, ref interface{}, location string) {
@@ -233,3 +227,38 @@
       },
 	  })
 }
+
+func TestQueryScriptFnLast(t *testing.T) {
+  assertQuery(t,
+    "[foo]\na = [0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]",
+    "$.foo.a[(last)]",
+		[]interface{}{
+		  int64(9),
+	  })
+}
+
+func TestQueryFilterFnOdd(t *testing.T) {
+  assertQuery(t,
+    "[foo]\na = [0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]",
+    "$.foo.a[?(odd)]",
+		[]interface{}{
+		  int64(1),
+		  int64(3),
+		  int64(5),
+		  int64(7),
+		  int64(9),
+	  })
+}
+
+func TestQueryFilterFnEven(t *testing.T) {
+  assertQuery(t,
+    "[foo]\na = [0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]",
+    "$.foo.a[?(even)]",
+		[]interface{}{
+		  int64(0),
+		  int64(2),
+		  int64(4),
+		  int64(6),
+		  int64(8),
+	  })
+}
diff --git a/jpath/query.go b/jpath/query.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..082fa69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jpath/query.go
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+package jpath
+
+import (
+  _ "github.com/pelletier/go-toml"
+)
+
+type nodeFilterFn func(node interface{}) bool
+type nodeFn func(node interface{}) interface{}
+
+// runtime context for executing query paths
+type queryContext struct {
+  filters *map[string]nodeFilterFn
+  scripts *map[string]nodeFn
+  results []interface{}
+}
+
+func (c *queryContext) appendResult(value interface{}) {
+  c.results = append(c.results, value)
+}
+
+// generic path functor interface
+type PathFn interface {
+  SetNext(next PathFn)
+  Call(node interface{}, ctx *queryContext)
+}
+
+// encapsulates a query functor chain and script callbacks
+type Query struct {
+  root PathFn
+  tail PathFn
+  filters *map[string]nodeFilterFn
+  scripts *map[string]nodeFn
+}
+
+func newQuery() *Query {
+  return &Query {
+    root: nil,
+    tail: nil,
+    filters: &defaultFilterFunctions,
+    scripts: &defaultScriptFunctions,
+  }
+}
+
+func (q *Query) appendPath(next PathFn) {
+  if q.root == nil {
+    q.root = next
+  } else {
+    q.tail.SetNext(next)
+  }
+  q.tail = next
+  next.SetNext(newTerminatingFn()) // init the next functor
+}
+
+func Compile(path string) *Query {
+  _, flow := lex(path)
+  return parse(flow)
+}
+
+func (q *Query) Execute(node interface{}) interface{} {
+  if q.root == nil {
+    return []interface{}{node} // identity query for no predicates
+  }
+  ctx := &queryContext {
+    filters: q.filters,
+    scripts: q.scripts,
+    results: []interface{}{},
+  }
+  q.root.Call(node, ctx)
+  return ctx.results
+}
+
+func (q *Query) SetFilter(name string, fn nodeFilterFn) {
+  if q.filters == &defaultFilterFunctions {
+    // clone the static table
+    q.filters = &map[string]nodeFilterFn{}
+    for k, v := range defaultFilterFunctions {
+      (*q.filters)[k] = v
+    }
+  }
+  (*q.filters)[name] = fn
+}
+
+func (q *Query) SetScript(name string, fn nodeFn) {
+  if q.scripts == &defaultScriptFunctions {
+    // clone the static table
+    q.scripts = &map[string]nodeFn{}
+    for k, v := range defaultScriptFunctions {
+      (*q.scripts)[k] = v
+    }
+  }
+  (*q.scripts)[name] = fn
+}
+
+var defaultFilterFunctions = map[string]nodeFilterFn {
+  "odd":  func(node interface{}) bool {
+    if ii, ok := node.(int64); ok {
+      return (ii & 1) == 1
+    }
+    return false
+  },
+  "even": func(node interface{}) bool {
+    if ii, ok := node.(int64); ok {
+      return (ii & 1) == 0
+    }
+    return false
+  },
+}
+
+var defaultScriptFunctions = map[string]nodeFn {
+  "last": func(node interface{}) interface{} {
+    if arr, ok := node.([]interface{}); ok {
+      return len(arr)-1
+    }
+    return nil
+  },
+}
+