Matthew 25:7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.

Why did the passage mention something so mundane back then? The next verse tells us:

Matthew 25:8 The foolish ones said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.”

In the care of oil lamps, several functions took place. The wicks were trimmed to produce a bright, efficient light. Over time, the wick’s soot interfered with the flame’s intensity, and untrimmed ones burned through more oil to compensate. Next, the oil level and the wick’s length were examined. Either one running out will extinguish the flame. Note: they were worried about the oil, not the wicks.

As Yahshua said, the ten virgins signify the Kingdom of the Father now on Earth—the Ecclesia and the different religions or denominations.

The lamps represent our bodies—how we allow ourselves to be and how others influence us.

Matthew 16:6 and Matthew 16:11 And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Mark 8:15 “Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.”

Luke 12:1 Jesus began to speak first to His disciples, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

1 Corinthians 5:6 and Galatians 5:9 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

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Matthew 13:33 and Luke 13:21 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”

The oil is the Holy Spirit—we must maintain our oil levels frequently by “purchasing” from Yah (praise with prayer, obedience to His order and compassion, and His Will becoming ours as well). The Spirit chooses how we are to be guided, not man. May the Father get the glory. Amen.

The wicks in their lamps symbolizes the believers’ lives (souls). Because we are stuck in corrupt flesh, we must get clean and work to stay that way—the trimming of the wicks [Matthew 7:15-27, James 2:14-26, Galatians 3:1-9, James 1:19-27, Romans 6:1-23, 1 John 1:7-9].

The flame—our active faith is prompted by our surrender to His Will and Desire that people can see. How bright is our fire, O Lord of Hosts? Can You see it? Can others?

Matthew 5:14-15 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

Mark 4:21 Yahshua also said to them, “Does anyone bring in a lamp to put it under a basket or under a bed? Doesn’t he set it on a stand?”

Luke 8:16 No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.

Luke 11:33 No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.

John 12:36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.

Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

Revelation 1:20 This is the mystery of the seven stars you saw in My right hand and of the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

The maintenance of candles is very similar for the same reasons. Do You Need to Trim the Candle Wick? And 6 Other Common Candle Care Questions covers the basics and is relatable today. I am sure you will spot more symbolism once you have read the article.