A reconfigurable context-based operation instruction set processor for use in a processing system capable of executing a first instruction set. The reconfigurable context-based operation instruction set processor comprises: 1) a reconfigurable data path comprising a plurality of reconfigurable functional blocks; and 2) a programmable finite state machine capable of controlling the reconfigurable data path. The programmable finite state machine is capable of executing a first plurality of context-related instructions that are a first subset of the first instruction set.