The quality of Chesterfield's attacking was too much for the visitors, who never recovered from Jack Lester's 26th goal of the season shortly after the interval.
Although Ben Wright pulled a goal back, Chesterfield deservedly went on to wrap up a convincing victory that took them back into the play-off places.
Lincoln were left to reflect on a below-par performance which was out of character with the form that has lifted them away from the League Two relegation zone.
An early injury to midfielder Lenell John-Lewis disrupted them but that was still no excuse for what followed.
Only the reflexes and bravery of goalkeeper Alan Marriott kept the Spireites at bay, but he was left cruelly exposed in the 38th minute when on-loan Sheffield United midfielder Lloyd Kerry punished some slap-dash defending to score from close range.
The quality of Lester had posed problems for the Lincoln defence all night and, seven minutes into the second half, he turned away from Lee Beevers and then slipped past Daniel Hone before placing a right-foot shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
Lincoln briefly got back in the match six minutes later when a defensive mix-up allowed substitute Wright to force the ball in from three yards, but two minutes later the home side restored their two-goal cushion.
A one-two between Lester and Peter Leven opened up the visitors' defence and Leven gave Marriott no chance with a low shot from 15 yards past his left hand.
Chesterfield were able to take off their two main strikers, but Lincoln were still struggling to keep them out and nine minutes from time the home side scored again.
The pace of Jamie Ward was too much for the visitors when Chesterfield broke away and he showed excellent composure after going past Marriott to square the ball back for Kerry to roll in his second of the night.