The name Melissa, as in Melissa Deddington, means "honeybee" in Greek.
The title is drawn from 1 Corinthians 15:56: "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." (KJV)
One of the central characters is Ambrose Deddington, a beekeeper. Saint Ambrose of Milan is patron saint of beekeepers.
When Wendi Peters playing miss Babbage threatens with a knife and says "Get out" flight of the bumble bee is playing in the background.